Pres: LCDR Dennis Sullivan, USN (Ret.)
Sec’y: CAPT Thomas G. Kiefaber, USN (Ret.)
11814 Triple Crown Road, Reston, VA 20191

(Ed's note: In the December 2002 issue the photo below should have run with the caption: The Ganeys with Ted Parker and Dick Morgen.)

   The following is a summary of items discussed at the 1955 executive committee meeting. The meeting was held on 14 November 2002 at the Army-Navy Country Club, Arlington. Attendees were: Denny Sullivan, Ray Hine, Cal Weaver, Tom Kiefaber, Fred Tolleson, Hartley Holte, Tom McIsaac, Tom Stallman, and Todd Meloy.

Donor and Class Recognition Program

   The Program consists of four parts:

   1. Replace bronze plaques recognizing donors to Alumni Hall construction project,

   2. Construct similar plaque to recognize donors to current campaign,

   3. Construct a plaque to recognize Class gifts from first time (1846) to present, and

   4. Class crests (1906 and on) to be mounted on wall between upper and lower seating in Alumni Hall.

   The cost of this program will be $6,500 for each living Class (includes cost for "nonliving" Class crests). Action: Our Class is prepared to participate.

2003 Homecoming Party

   The 2002 Homecoming Party at Alumni House (Ogle Hall) was deemed a success—great surroundings, new '55 faces, and representative '05ers in attendance. Action: We plan to do it again next year (25 October 2003) with the assistance of the Class of 1952.

Class Gift

   The John Paul Jones Crypt Project is now official. A $35K design study will be completed on 15 December. The '55 Stadium Project will be a "Cold War Memorial Battle Arch" located at the south end of the stadium. It will feature plaques and pictures, and will cost about $250,000. To extend Class interest, the potential of holding a Crypt Project Luncheon, to include a behind-the-scenes tour of the Crypt, was discussed. In 2002, the Class of 1955 has donated/pledged a total of $406,538. Over $100,425 has been for the JPJ Crypt, over $7,000 for various sports support, and over $250,000 is in a special gift account awaiting the donor's final decisions. Action: A Class gift explanation letter to the Class will be sent out as soon as the Memorandum of Agreement with USNA AA/Foundation is finalized.

Link 50

   At the end of Third Class Year, the Class of 2005 will meet on Hospital Point for an informal picnic to celebrate being halfway through the Naval Academy program. The Class of 1955 is invited to join in the festivities. The event that will be more significant is the Commitment Dinner next August when the Class of 2005 reforms with the brigade and reaffirms their commitment. This is a formal dinner in King Hall. We will be invited to perform a major role in this dinner, providing the guest speaker and sitting among the midshipmen to share in the celebration. '05 Class Officers again will be invited to our '03 Homecoming Party (see above). Action: Ray Hine, Class vice president, will coordinate our participation in Link 50 events.

50-Year History Book

   The 50-Year History Book will contain a section called Class Awards and Citations, based on a USNA AA generated list. The list needs to be updated and Don Kellerman has agreed to coordinate this effort, working with the Alumni Association and Classmates. Awards of Silver Star and above will be considered. A dedicated individual is needed to handle photos for the book—to include being recipient of photos, organize, track, manipulate, lay-out, coordinate, etc. As reported in USNA55 Class Funds, $2,500 has been budgeted for the 50th History Book to date. Action: Hartley Holte will solicit for a photo person volunteer.

50th Reunion

   Advanced planning has commenced. Tentative dates are 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 September 2005. It will not be a Homecoming weekend, and the football game is with Stanford (tentatively). Reunion headquarters will be at the Waterfront Marriott. One hundred twenty-five rooms have been blocked out for our use at the Marriott, with more rooms reserved at the Best Western as well. Events being discussed are: Picnic—Crown Center, Reception—New Soccer Facility, short Lite Lunch Cruise and/or Motor Yacht Cruise to St. Michael's, Class Golf/Tennis, Welcome Party—Alumni House, Class Gift Presentation—Tent by Crypt, Memorial Service—Chapel (preferably on Friday), Class Meeting and address by Superintendent—Mahan Hall, Gala Banquet—Main Floor, Alumni Hall (preferably on Friday night), Catered Tailgate—'53 Pavilion (possible tour to DC/Baltimore during tailgate/game), Company parties on Saturday night, and Brunch/Farewell gathering on Sunday. The possibility of contracting out for the manning of the hospitality suite was discussed. A really nice memento as part of the memorabilia package is being looked at. Action: Denny Sullivan, Class president, and Tom Stallman, Annapolis representative, will head up the effort (assisted by many other local Classmates, as usual). Further planning by a reunion committee will be conducted next year; plans firmed by August '04, and first letter to Class by November '04. Comments, suggestions, and recommendations from Classmates are welcomed and desired.

   The final golf tournament of the season was held on Tuesday, 15 October, at the Hidden Creek Country Club in Reston, VA. An awards dinner followed in the dining room reserved for the occasion for the 17 attending. Joe Chmelik and his family were very conspicuous with seven members attending, including his wife, Pat, children, Tony and Ed, with their wives, and Tom, whose wife was on travel and could not attend. Also attending were Martha and Tony Bracken who did not play golf, but came for the festivities and to show their allegiance to the local class golf program. This was Tony's first function since his significant neck surgery, four months prior, to repair an aircraft accident injury suffered 30 years ago. It was acting up and threatened his mobility. Tom Schultz was in attendance, and as the former recipient of the Ed Straub Memorial Golf Trophy, had the responsibility of awarding it to the next worthy awardee—Denny Sullivan. Denny, also present, received the award for being the most flexible host for the monthly golf outings as he filled in admirably for Tom Schultz and Tony Bracken during the seven-month season. Lucy and Hank Mustin were also present with Lucy receiving the award for the best golfer in the local Class group for the 2002 season. Lucy added to that honor with her hole in one scored during the Fairfax outing one-month prior. Harley Holte, who travels each month from his home in Annapolis to participate in the monthly matches, received an award for his consistency and durability in making almost every event. Don Kellerman was in attendance, as was John Adams. Unfortunately John was unable to stay for the dinner, but did play golf with the Class earlier as all hustled to beat the bad winter weather that was fast closing in on the area. The master of ceremonies was Ray Hine, who recognized the contributions of the individual golf hosts for the year and the considerable golf feats of the various Class members including those of Ted Parker who, unfortunately, was unable to attend. His new found golf skills were worthy of note in his absence. Ray says, "See you all next year for the opening tournament in April."

   From Hartley "Oli" Holte:

   Work continues in both planning and initial text material preparation for our 50-Year History Book. The response of offers to help has been terrific and we have already set-up some specific task area assignments in support of our core management team. Don Kellerman will coordinate a major section on aviation (USN, USAF, and USMC); Tom Stallman and Mal MacKinnon will be doing sections on CEC and EDO respectively, and Denny Sullivan is preparing a section on our "Legacy" projects. Other areas underway include re-structuring the In-Memorium section, organizing for later biography update requests, and identification of material desired for a section devoted to those who received the highest honors for valor. We are grateful to B.J. Straub for loaning us the citation for Ed Straub's Silver Star, and for the insightful material provided by Lu Gregg on his experiences and observations as an early African-American graduate. The overwhelming response to our questionnaire was for us to prepare a hard cover volume. We are, however, looking into producing a supplemental computer diskette. We also expect to issue, early next year, an email/snail mail request for funding commitments for 2005 book purchases and "memorial" inputs/contributions. More to follow!

"Taps"

   I regret to inform that Lt Col Sanda "Sandy" B. Helms Jr., USAF (Ret.) (08) passed away at his residence in Temple Hills, MD, on 7 November 2002, due to sudden heart failure. A burial ceremony with full military honors was held on 9 December at Arlington National Cemetery. Sandy was born in Tuscaloosa, AL, on 25 August 1930. He attended the University of Alabama from 1948 to 1951 where he lettered in football and played first string offensive guard. He was skipper of the U.S. Naval Academy 89-foot schooner FREEDOM. Upon graduation he attended flight school and served as an Air Force multi-engine pilot in various assignments in the U.S. and Turkey. He logged over 900 hours during his tour of duty in Vietnam and was awarded seven Air Medals. He received a master's degree in electrical engineering from the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology. He is survived by his son, Sanda B. Helms III, Charleston, SC, and daughter, Lisa Helms Knight, Lawrenceville, GA, grandchildren, Tyler and Drew Helms and Stephen and Leslie Knight, brothers, Robert K. Helms, Tuscaloosa, AL, and Charles W. Helms, Garden Grove, CA.       Joyce Frost Haynes, wife of John Haynes, passed away on 16 October as a result of an automobile accident. John was in the accident and he appears to be well on the mend. It's great to report that Don Conner has recovered from his stroke sufficiently to be able to live at home. The accompanying photo shows Don with Cal Weaver at the Saunders' picnic last summer.

   Hugh Webster reports that on 26 July 2003, MUSTIN (DDG-89) will be commissioned at the Naval Air Station, North Island, Coronado. This commissioning will be an outstanding event, not only for the significance of the Mustin name, but in remembrance of over 100 years of Naval Academy graduates who served with distinction in honor of our country. This super ARLEIGH BURKE destroyer is named in honor of four Mustins: CAPT Henry C. Mustin 1896, VADM Lloyd Mustin '32, VADM Henry C. Mustin '55, and LCDR Tom Mustin '62. The ship will be commanded by CDR Ann Phillips. The Command Master Chief is James Ergaudal. Ship sponsors are Mrs. Lucy Mustin, Mrs. Doug Mustin St. Dennis, and Mrs. Jean Mustin. The commissioning committee is chaired by Mr. Jim Fitzpatrick, publisher of San Diego Magazine; Hugh Webster, Chief of Staff; Rich Fontaine '51, operations; and John Nyquist, Protocol, as well as a host of other talented people. This is an advance notice. Get your name on the list. John Nyquist will put your invitations on the master list at Northrop Grumman (Pascagoula), but we need your input by April 2003.

Potpourri

   Congratulations to Fred Tolleson on his inclusion onto the Honor Wall of the National Museum of the American Indian. Maj Gen Pete Odgers, USAF (Ret.) is chairman of the Air Force Institute of Technology Foundation at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, OH. Helen and Harold "Heap" Nelson are shown in attendance at the retirement ceremony for their daughter, MAJ Harlene Coutteau, USA (Ret.). Don Loosley sent in a picture he took at the joint OBX/Tidewater luncheon held in September. It shows Seventh Companymates Don, Joe Walter, Roy Paul, Charlie Senn, Lee Turner, Paul Sutherland, with Eighth Company interloper, Tony Hastoglis. Lilia and Jerry Kowalsky hosted a gathering of Classmates in the San Diego area for the Notre Dame game. Others attending the game included Lynne and Ned Floyd, Sandy Henry (widow of Chuck Henry), Dick Jones, and Bob Price. The Kowalsky home is lovely. The food and refreshments were great. And the first seven-eights of the game were superlative. A picture of three '55 couch potatoes enjoying the activities has been posted on the '55 web site, usna.com/classes/1955. And some more tailgate pics.

Upcoming DC Area Class Events

   On 21 February, dinner at USNA O'Club followed by Masquerader's production of Little Shop of Horrors. Contact Bill Kennington at 401-849-3766 or wakennington@comcast.net. Dark Ages Party at Belle Haven CC in Alexandria, VA, on 8 March. Contact Don Kellerman at 703-768-2442 or dkellerman@aol.com.