Pres: LCDR Dennis Sullivan, USN (Ret.)
Sec’y: CAPT Thomas G. Kiefaber, USN (Ret.)
11814 Triple Crown Road, Reston, VA 20191
h: 703-758-1077; e: KIEF55@aol.com
http://www.usna.com/classes/1955

    Your correspondent attended the Navy Football Banquet at Alumni Hall on 9 February with Lucy and Hank Mustin, Debbie and John Adams, and Mary Gale Buchanan. It was the first time for me and definitely will not be the last. The program was very entertaining and included a warm-up for the 2002 season given by the new coach, Paul Johnson. We had the honor of being seated with Slade Cutler ’35, a Navy football legend. He won the ’34 Army-Navy game single-handedly with a field goal, and later, was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He was a star lacrosse player as well as an unbeaten Navy boxer (good enough to be considered for a professional career). As a submariner in World War II, he earned four Navy Crosses and two Silver Stars. Prior to his retirement in 1965, Slade Cutter was the Athletic Director at USNA. We enjoyed his reminiscences.

    Anne and Ted Parker held their annual potluck dinner after the Navy-Bucknell basketball games on Saturday, 12 January. Great conviviality and a marvelous spread! It was well attended—40 some with four Midshipmen, and the following: Debbie and John Adams, Jane Bersch (Dave Reynolds’ widow) and her husband, John Bersch, Betty and Tom Cann, Ginny and Don Conner, Pat and Kent Drummond, Gale and Tom Emery, Betsey and Bob Fountain, Ray Hine and Virginia Wyman, Sally and Hartley Holte, Sabra and Bill Kennington, Ursula and Tom Kiefaber, Roz and Mal MacKinnon, Tom McIsaac and Joan Connolly, Lucy and Hank Mustin, Dick Peterson, Margot and Gary Snyder, Denny Sullivan, Syd and Fred Tolleson, Sheila and Cal Weaver, and Mary Gale Buchanan.

    Margot and Gary Snyder have taken off on another of their RV excursions, this time to Florida. On the first leg, we saw them at the Parker’s shindig in Annapolis. Their huge RV took up four parking spots! Subsequently they stopped in the Outer Banks and visited Pat and Paul Sutherland, Don Aven, and Jeannie and Joe Walter.

    Tom State noticed in Shipmate that Buddy Parker not only played in the latest Alumni-Varsity Squash rivalry, but won his match as well! "Congratulations Buddy! For those of us having trouble getting in and out of golf carts, your performance is amazing, impressive and inspirational. Well done!"

   Taps

    I’m saddened to report that we lost two Classmates recently. CAPT John "Brent" Streit, USN (Ret.) (10), died on 25 January, at his residence in Virginia Beach, VA. Naval aviation was his passion. He distinguished himself as a pilot in the first A-7 squadron to deploy to Vietnam, and as the executive officer and later commanding officer of the first A-7 squadron to deploy to the Mediterranean. That squadron was the first winner of the C. Wade McClusky award. He flew 167 combat missions, with distinction, in Vietnam. Brent is survived by his wife, Dorothy "Dolly," and by five children, Kimberly A. Carlton and her husband, Russ; James B. "Bart" Streit and his wife, Cathy; J. Douglas Streit and his wife, Alix; Stephanie M. Cunningham and her husband, P.J.; and Gregory B. Streit. Dolly resides at: 2209 Tanglewood Trail, Virginia Beach, VA 23454; 757-481-5057.

    Keith Nyhus (15), died of a brain tumor on 7 December 2001 in Park Rapids, MN. After graduation he spent four years as a lieutenant junior grade and then lieutenant with the Fleet in the Western Pacific aboard GEORGE CLYMER. After leaving the Navy in 1959, Keith attended Mankato State University for one year and then worked on the computer guidance systems for the Polaris and Poseidon missiles as an employee of General Electric and the Control Data Corporation. Keith taught electronic technology at Southwest State College in Marshall. He discovered he had a talent for design, ended his teaching career, and he and his wife, Nancy, started Nyhus Woodcrafts. They sold their prize-winning fine-art wood sculptures at art shows across the Midwest and to collectors worldwide. Keith is survived by his wife, Nancy, and their children, Paul and Joan Nyhus of Roberts, WI, and their daughters, Greta and Sara; Karin Nyhus and Dan Halsey of Woodbury, MN, and their son, Bryson; and Julie Nyhus of Columbus, OH. Nancy resides at: 14158 Eagleridge Cir., Park Rapids, MN 56470; 218-732-1959.

    Ed "Seabreeze" McHale writes:

    In the mail from Don Lovelace:

    (Ed’s note: The last sentence in the March issue should have read "Webbie" not Debbie was last seen trying to find the Streetcar named Desire from ’55 Sugar Bowl days. The website version was correct with this.)