The Reunion Committee is closing in on the final schedule and program for our 45th Reunion, Oct 26-29, 2000.  We begin on Thursday with a Chesapeake Bay cruise and follow with a cocktail buffet in Alumni Hall that evening.  On Friday, we are planning a golf tournament and, of course, there will be various yard and in-town events.  On Friday evening, we will have a dinner dance at our hotel, the Annapolis Marriott, downtown on the waterfront.  On Saturday morning, we will tailgate in the Class of '53 Pavilion in the football stadium.  The game against Toledo begins at noon, and after the game, the tailgate will continue.  Saturday evening, there will be a cocktail party at the hotel, but it is also a grand opportunity for classmates to organize smaller parties or dinners on a company or battalion basis.  On Sunday, there will be a brunch at the Officers' Club and a memorial service in the chapel at 1:30 PM.

Our main headquarters is the Marriott, probably the best hotel in town, within easy walking distance of the Academy.  We will have a reception and welcome suite off the lobby and a hospitality suite upstairs where we can provide our own beverages.  The phone number for reservations (which are being accepted now) is (410) 268-7555.  Be sure to identify yourself as a member of the Class of '55 Reunion.  Our second (back-up) hotel is the Best Western off Route 50, about a 15 minute drive to the Academy.  The rates at the Best Western are lower and the rooms and facilities are quite adequate.  The phone number at the Best Western is (410) 224-2800.  All in all, it looks like a grand get-together and a great opportunity to catch up with classmates in the beginning of the new millennium.

The class constitution requires that officers be elected every five years during reunions.  A ballot will be included in the reunion package.  Voting will take place and results will be announced at the reunion.  Nominations must be submitted (in writing) to: Dick Morgen, 7641 Bond Street, St. Leonard MD 20685.  Seconding of nominations will be accomplished by classmates in the DC area.  All of the current officers, Denny Sullivan (President), Tom McIsaac (Vice President), Don Conner (Treasurer), and Tom Kiefaber (Corresponding Secretary) are willing to continue in office for another five years, if reelected.

The Alumni Association begins its annual fund drive in January 2000.  We can expect either a phone call or mail solicitation for the Naval Academy Fund, which supports both the Alumni Association and the Brigade of Midshipmen, depending on your choice.  Also we can contribute to the construction of the new soccer facility (being championed by Bill Anders (22)) by marking our checks "For the Soccer Facility".

During the year, we will be making plans for a major gift to the Academy to commemorate the 50th anniversary of our graduation.  Jack Baldwin (13) heads up a committee to identify a worthy project or memorial - something meaningful and enduring.  We hope to have the project identified by the 45th and begin a program that will continue during the 5 years between our 45th and 50th reunions.  If you have any thoughts or ideas on this, contact Jack by email at bald1@earthlink.net or by phone at (410) 757-0748.

Our '55 Home Tailgate season closed out in fine style with the Tulane game on November 13th (Navy home football games have been rated as one of the top five pregame atmospheres in the nation).  It was the only home win of the season.  Tom Cann (16) did a magnificent job designing and building new delineation markers for our parking lot site - blue & gold cones with a clever method of encorporating the boundary lines.  In the setting up before each game department, Denny Sullivan (13) was assisted by Wes W. Saunders (23), Ted Parker (19) and Steve Lowe (11).  Joannie & Dick Morgan (03) regularly dispensed specialty hot dogs (with goo), Jean & Darrel Westbrook (10) could be counted on for delicious homemade fudge, and Denny and Tom Kiefaber (19) were usually good for chips and dip.  Other regulars included: Roz & Mal MacKinnon (14), Sid & Fred Tolleson (17), Margot & Gary Snyder (01), Debbie & John Adams(12), Carol Turner, BJ Straub, Sabra & Bill Kennington (07), Ginny & Don Conner (08), Nancy & Don Kellerman (07), Virginia & Ray Hine (20), Tom McIsaac (14), Lucy & Hank Mustin (12), Del & Chuck Senn (07), Margery & Tom Stallman (14), and Peggy & Otto Zipf (15).  Out-of-towners, who attended some of the tailgates during the season, included: Ray Medeiros (03), Lyn & Dan Shields (16), Lynn & Ned Floyd (18), Tom Emery (09), Sybil & Charley Plumly (16), Al Kozischek (02), Joe Dunn (16) & Jack Renard (05). (PHOTO #1, '55 Tailgaters")

Coming events for the year include our 20th Dark Ages Party on March 4th at the Army-Navy Country Club in Arlington VA.  Out-of-towners are always welcome to our Washington DC functions.  If you want to attend or have questions about the upcoming schedule of DC get-togethers, contact Denny Sullivan by email at DSull55@aol.com or by phone at (703) 683-0733.

Betty and Tony Hastoglis (08) came down to the Virginia Beach area from their home in Charlottesville to host the annual Fall '55 Get-Together Supper at their Sandbridge cottage.  The local group of: Carol & Carl Vogel (08), Julia & Bill Stevens (10), Dolly & Brent Streit (10), Joanne & John Roberts (01), Pat & Jack Foran (01), Diana & George Delano (23), Gwen & Frank Farino (10), Sybil & Charley Plumly, were joined by Carl Strang (16) (in town for a squadron reunion) and Roz & Mal MacKinnon, down from Alexandria. (PHOTO #2, "The Virginia Beach Bunch")

Paul Sutherland (07) reports after just returning from another cruise.

This cruise was to the Med starting out in Rome and ending in Athens.  A great time was had by all.  Classmates on this one were:  Jean  & Darrel Westbrook, Sandy & Ted Hyman (13) (our cruise directors and owners of S & T Travel), Genie & Joe Walter (07) and Pat and me. We also had other friends in the group as well as Judy & Bill Houley USNA '59. The weather was picture perfect for the entire time (12 days cruising plus extra time before in Rome and after in Athens). One of the highlights of the cruise was a fashion show and would you believe that Ted Hyman and yours truly were in it (picture to follow).  We established the time and place for the next cruise.  It will be to South America  with a trip around the Horn in Jan 2001. It will be another trip on the outstanding Crystal Cruise lines, Crystal Symphony.  If you have not cruised with Crystal then you have missed the best.  Any one interested in the South America trip can contact Sandy or Ted at tedhyman@erols.com or (301) 438-3141.  We already have several signed up so come and join the group.

It is sad to report that another classmate has passed away.  Marcy Lester Newell (18) died on Thursday, October 7th in Reno NV of aneurism/heart attack (very sudden).  He leaves his wife Barbara, and children Pam, Diana & Larry.  Gene Crosby (16) is undergoing another bout with lung cancer and needs your prayers.  Tom Miller (01) wrote from Mainz, Germany to express his regret at the death of Jimmie D. Jackson.  Tom was a roommate of Jim's during 2nd & 1st class years, and always will remember Jim as a friend.

Ray Hine came through with a golf wind-up report:

The 1999 golf season has come and gone leaving fond memories and great inter and intra class competetion along the way.  Our season started in April in Reston VA at the National Course and concluded in October at the Hidden Creek Country Club, also in Reston.  Throughout the year, we averaged about 3 foursomes at each of our monthly outings hosted by classmates Denny Sullivan, Tony Bracken (20), Don Kellerman, Tom Schultz (24) and yours truly.  The final event of the season included an awards dinner with trophies going to those who made the season most memorable. Trophies were awarded to Tony Bracken as best class golfer for the year, maintaining the lowest overall scoring average.  Best woman golfer was Lucy Mustin, who consistently scored in the eighties.  Top family participation went to Joe Chmelik (22), who usually had one or more of his sons participate at each event.  Most consistent golfer went to Hank Mustin, who not only played in all 7 events of the year but also had the steadiest score among all the players.  The attendance award went to Dick Morgen, who normally plays in far off Pax River, but comes to everything even when it has been cancelled because of inclement weather. A second award for this category went to Denny Sullivan who also participated in all events and could always be counted on.  Most improved award went to the entire '55 Class of golfers, as they improved each outing over the previous one in terms of average score.  Lucy & Hank Mustin presented the Ed Straub Memorial Golf Trophy (as the previous winners) to Joe Chmelik for his contributions to the Class of 1955 Golf season for 1999.

During September we participated in our annual class challenge hosted by Jim Poole USNA '57, who continues to be the golf  tournament master supreme. He traditionally puts on a wonderful tournament- this one was at Augustine Golf Course near Frederiksburg Va. We had  to recruit a number of golfers from the class of 1958- our plebes as you all remember - to assist their old firsties. Well the scheme worked and we won the class challenge for the third time in as many meetings. This event attracted Jack Renard and Jim Dunn from their home in the Virginia Mountains. The winning team consisted of Tom Schultz with a '58 participant.  The next challenge is already set for early September at the Gauntlet Course outside of Fredricksburg. We golfers are already looking ahead to the next season. There is always room for improvement and more great stories  to  be told. (PHOTO #3, "'55 Golfing Awardees"; PHOTO #4, "John Adams, Denny Sullivan, Tony Bracken & Norm Harper"; PHOTO #5, "Dick Morgen with Nancy & Don Kellerman"; PHOTO #6, Carl Strang & Tom Davis golfing in Florida")

According to John Haynes (09) and Bob Price (06), the mini-reunion in Honolulu was unforgettable. John wrote in to say:

We had a total of twenty-two '55 and about ten '56 couples who attended at least one function.  The reception on the aft main deck of  USS MISSOURI (BB-63) brought back many memories of Youngster Cruise. The pre-game tailgate, complete with the USNA Midshipman Band and cheerleaders was inspirational. The Friday evening affair at Oahu Country Club overlooking Honolulu, and arranged by Mary Lou and George Stott (17) and their son and daughter-in-law, was magnificent. And, to top it all off, the Sunday beach party at the Stott's mansion in Kailua could have gone on all night if George hadn't finally brought in his dogs to drive us out!

There were many sea stories recalled, particularly submarine ones (all true, of course). The only mishap that I am aware of, besides the football game, occurred when Jean and Chuck Gray (05), Mae and John 'Hook' Anderson (10), and Barbara and Ken Godstrey USNA '56 missed post-game muster for the private bus ride back to the Hale Koa Hotel. Turns out the Grays and Andersons caught the bus anyway, and the Godstreys maneuvered independently and got back to the hotel before we did!

Incidentally, the Hale Koa Hotel at Fort DeRussy was great. Gone are the rundown barracks from World War II. The place was rebuilt in the 1970s and again in 1995. Rooms are spacious, clean, and reasonably priced. The Army got it right with this one.

In a moment of temporary lapse of common sense, I told someone I'd have to compose a poem about the trip. I am not a poet, nor a lyricist, but I can do a pretty fair job of adapting the style of others to get my thoughts across. Being a numbers kind of guy, the following is an adaptation from a current TV ad.

2 airplane tickets to fly 2500 miles to the middle of the Pacific Ocean ..... $750
An evening party and tour of a 50 year old battleship ..... $130
2 football game tickets to see Navy lose a heartbreaker in a decidedly hostile stadium ..... $32
A chance to visit and reminisce with classmates and former shipmates, some of whom we hadn't seen for over 40 years ..... PRICELESS

The ocean view from a top deck deluxe balcony room at Hale Koa ..... $143/day
A classy muumuu that Joyce wore once ..... $60
2 cases of papaya, a lot of Kona coffee, and macadamia nuts, for the folks
back home, of course ..... $150
Footprints in the freshly groomed Waikiki sand at dawn, with the love of my life ..... PRICELESS

The current 'depressed' price of a home in Foster Village, like the one
we sold in 1962 for $26,000 ..... $280,000
Honolulu traffic, even with three newer freeways ..... As bad as in 1961
The emotion of the Navy fans, right to the end ..... How can you price that?
The hospitality and effort by George and Mary Lou Stott to make this a truly memorable trip ..... PRICELESS

Bob Price had this to say about the mini-reunion events in Hawaii:

Mary Lou and George Stott went to a lot of work to see that '55 classmates enjoyed the trip. They had classmates to the Oahu Country Club Friday evening; also a fine beach party Sunday at their great home on the Kailua shore (the Stotts have a thriving real-estate business on Oahu, in case you hear "Hawaii calling").

An interesting event for us at Pearl Harbor was first, the memorial ceremony at USS ARIZONA, then later the reception on Big Mo (with many mai-tais and dinner) and the Admiral's excellent overview of the Pacific theater's potential hot spots ..... very interesting.  It seemed a fitting sequence: Battleship Row jumps us (US) into WW II with the humiliating 'surprise' attack; we then go across the  harbor to USS MISSOURI to the venue of Japan's acceptance of their own humiliating  unconditional surrender.   Go America!
 
 

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Conceptual planning for the 45th Reunion: The dates of our 45th Reunion have changed.  It will now take place on October 26-29, 2000, an "off-Homecoming" weekend.  However, nothing else has changed.  We still have booked the waterfront Marriott Hotel in Annapolis as well as the Days Inn on Route 50.  And Washington area Classmates are still planning a great program.  More details will be provided later in Shipmate, via letter, and on the '55 Net. We still have a long way to go - if you have any ideas, put them on our Listserv or call Tom Kiefaber at (703) 759-7743 or another Washington area Classmate.

Class Membership for December 1998 is 63 Percent........... Are you a member of the Naval Academy Alumni Association (15 non-graduates are!)? You can sign up by calling (410) 263-4448 x112 or 117. Annual dues are $30.00 or $410.00 for lifetime membership (paid in quarterly installments). Or indicate your interest to me and I'll have USNAAA send you an application. You'll find SHIPMATE has vastly improved. Tom K. Note:  Please contact USNA Alumni Services office at 410-263-4448 x112 or achamber@arctic.nadn.navy.mil to update your address if you are a member of the USNAAA and not getting Shipmate. If you are not a Naval Academy alumnus, but would like to subscribe to Shipmate, please contact the phone number/email address above or click on Subscription Form. Your Webmaster

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All editorial matter, inquiries concerning memberships or subscriptions and change of address of members and subscribers should be addressed to: U. S. Naval Academy Alumni Assoc. 247 King George Street Annapolis, MD 21402-5068 Phone: (410) 263-4448 Internet: alumni@artic.nadn.navy.mil