2017 Mini-Reunion
Reno, Nevada

And so, the close of the Mini-Reunion of the Class of 1960 came to a very successful end in Reno, Nevada. This reunion was held in the same month, June, as we graduated from the Academy 57 years ago.

Most of the Classmates stayed at the Peppermill Resort and Casino in South Reno. A block of rooms had been negotiated so we had very favorable room rates. The Peppermill was really big. Probably took 30 minutes plus (45?) just to walk around the inside to see everything. Many restaurants and their food was GREAT!

The reunion started on 6 June on the second floor (away from the noise of the casino) in the Terrace Lounge (Tuscany bar- is my memory fading?). We had 28 people in attendance so we took over about 1/6 of the room--big, round bar with seating and tables all around it. Charlie Diver brought along and put up the "NORTHWEST FALCONS" banner that is used when the NW Falcons get to together somewhere around Seattle every month for lunch. We deemed this appropriate since the Northwest Falcons planned this event over a year ago.

Ben Furuta was kind enough to make nametags for all of us to hang around our necks--I really had no idea as to who some of our classmates were, so I really needed to see the name tags. The classmates name tags had their picture on them taken from the 1960 year book. Ben also volunteered to do the picture taking during the reunion--he did a superb job! Check out the pictures that were sent to all attendees separately--try to guess who was who!!!!!!!!

Not just to mention that the hors d'oeuvres were great, but they were also cost effective--we gathered there from 5- 8(?) which was Happy Hour (4-7) in the Casino. I gave up around 8 PM and I have no idea who was the last man standing-- it wasn't me!

On June 7^th, different people gathered to eat at various places in Reno for breakfast and lunch and to see the sights of Reno. I bumped into Alex and Pam Zimmerman at the "Black Bear Diner" for breakfast and joined them. I personally went to the Auto Museum as did a number of others. It was spoken of as being one of the top 5 auto museums in the U.S. Very large!  I was impressed with the mint conditioned DeLorean and the Tucker cars.

Then at 5 PM we began to gather at "ZOZO's Restaurant." This restaurant (Italian) had a separate room which accommodated our group--we actually could have squeezed in some 36 people. Cocktails and stories flowed for two hours as we gathered. We had a separate table to put on our momentos that a number of people brought. Items included: 1960 and 2010 year books, and a "Contrails" (a book I didn't like very much as a "doolie") and info about the book that RG Head had written.

At 7 PM, we started our program with the Pledge of Allegiance. Harry Swainston was kind enough to bring a normal sized flag as the restaurant only had a very small one. Miles Kaspar led us in the pledge.

Jim Kerr then took the stage to lead us in a prayer. I had not seen Jim for 57 years--he was the one who knocked me out in our freshman boxing class. I almost didn't get to fly because of that incident. His prayer for the Class ended up with the Lord's Prayer which we all joined in with him.

After the waitresses served the salads we began our toasts and open comments. Charlie Diver had a number of words for the classmates (by name) who had gone before us to their final destination. All of our hearts were touched by his toast.

Another toast which was a surprise to us was by Ben Furuta. If you really think back, in 1956, it was only 10-11 years after the end of the internment of the Japanese in WWII. Ben's family had been interned. But, my looking back, I don't believe that there was anybody in our class who ever thought that Ben was different from the rest of us--it was a non-issue for us. Ben was very thankful that he was never singled out at the Academy.

For dinner we had one of three choices. I had sent the total restaurant menu out to all the classmates West of the Rockies to vote on what they wanted for dinner. The restaurant asked us to settle on three choices which ended up Prime Rib, Pork Tenderloin and Chicken Piccata. I have only one thing to say about the "GREAT" dinner. Gregg Boyington, sitting across from me had the biggest slab of Prime Rib I have ever seen--I don't know how he was able to eat it all!

During dessert the floor was open to all comments. R.G. Head talked about (actually earlier during the toast time since we also were open to comments at that time) that it would be great to get together again in 2018 in San Diego. Perhaps we could call it something like "The Class of 1960 Mini-Reunion with the Birthday Party for All of Us Who Are Turning 80!"  Make the mini a Class Birthday Party!  Obviously this is way too long, but I will leave it up to RG to come up with whatever he wants to call it. But start planning for next year and as soon as we get some info from RG put it on your calendar.

And, obviously, this event would be open to the whole Class--even East of the Rockies, just like the Reno mini was open to all.

After the comments, I brought out two gifts (prizes). I first asked who was the oldest classmate there (Gregg Boyington) and who was the youngest classmate there (Ben Furuta). I then asked everyone to vote, which included all the women, as to which one of these should get the prize? By a vote of 15-13, Ben won the prize which was a bobble headed very old person standing in a large sack like one would see in a sack race. It was about 6 inches high. The words on the statue said, "Old but Still Great in the Sack!"

For the door prize, all of the grads had dropped their folded up name in a large glass bowl. I had a waitress pick out two names for me. The prize for each one of them was a 25^th Anniversary Wine Glass that had the Class of 60 Crest on it. I used two of my glasses as I had purchased a dozen of the glasses and I can't remember ever using more than 5 or 6 of the glasses at a time over the past 30+ years. Might as well spread them around a little bit. Nels Delisanti and RG Head each won one of the glasses. I cautioned each one to not put the glasses in the dishwasher so the crests won't disappear!

After the door prizes, Charlie Thompson took the lead and we all sang the Marines Hymn (for our Marine brethren) and the Air Force song with much gusto! I wonder what the people thought in the other room of the restaurant?

All business being over and since I did not have a gavel to close the reunion, I had everyone having a Class ring to begin a ring knocking ceremony!

We look forward to see what RG can put together for another mini-reunion next year. At last count there were (are?) 45 grads that live West of the Rockies. 16 made it to the Reno reunion. I wonder how many may make it to the next reunion!