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

    I haven’t filed a column since early October (due to skipped January issue), consequently there are a lot of events to report on—among others, ’55 golf season wind-up, Homecoming ’01, and the soccer facility dedication.

    The 2001 golf season for the local Washington metro area Classmates came to a close on 16 October with a golf outing of 14 Classmates and wives followed by an awards dinner that was attended by 17. Also joining us was the Cold War mural artist, Stewart White. Leading up to this final event were tournaments at the Mount Vernon Country Club hosted by Tom Schultz, the Army and Navy Country Club, Fairfax hosted by Tony Bracken, and the Bell Haven Country Club hosted by Don Kellerman, who also hosted a dinner following. At the awards dinner, Lucy and Hank Mustin received the Best Golfing Team Award having attended, as a couple, the majority of golf events conducted over the past year. Tony Bracken received the Best Golfer Award for the umpteenth time. He remained the best golfer in the local group as he consistently had the low score, somewhere in the 80s, in each of our monthly tournaments. Hartley Holte and Dick Morgan were awarded the Longest Drive Trophies as they consistently traveled the longest distance to attend each of our outings. Monroe Hatch, who was unable to be present due to the press of business, received the Most Consistent Golfer Award for 2001 as he traditionally had a score in the mid-80s regardless of course or conditions. Denny Sullivan received the Best Golf Supporter trophy for his reckless abandon of good health and weather to participate in each of our golf tournaments. The prestigious Ed Straub Award went to Tom Schultz for his loyal support to our local Class golf for the past ten years and his willingness and expertise in hosting an annual tournament at his local country club in Mount Vernon. Overall it was a very rewarding season with great fun and camaraderie.

    The Class of 1955 USNA Golf Schedule for 2002 will kick off on 16 April at the Army Navy Country Club in Fairfax followed by three outings outside the immediate metro area that caters to our Classmates who have traveled so far and so long to join us—it is now our turn to be travelers. Our monthly outings will be on the third Tuesday of each month. Starting times are reflective of the optimum times for travel and any social activities that might follow. Please contact the monthly golf host on the Friday preceding each event to inform him of your attendance and to obtain any last minute scheduling information.

    Over the Homecoming weekend, we had Al "King" Kozischek as our house guest. We had a great time at the somewhat "reinvigorated" USNA AA festivities. The Friday alumni picnic was well-placed (next to Midshipman Store) and well done, and the 2001 All Classes Homecoming Party that evening in Alumni Hall was superb—good eats/refreshments and live entertainment. As usual, we lost the game, but that didn’t dampen our celebration at one of our best ’55 tailgates of the year. That evening we gathered at Paul’s on the South River for libations and dinner. ’55ers at the ACHP were: Anne and Ted Parker, Herb Malik, Denny Sullivan, Fred Tolleson, Al Kozischek and myself. At the ’55 dinner were: Ginny and Don Connor (who arranged the event), Jean and Darrel Westbrook, Bumpsey and Ace Davis, Joan and Dick Morgan, Margot and Gary Snyder, Denny Sullivan, Nancy and Don Kellerman, Anne and Ted Parker, Pat and Kent Drummond, Sally and Hartley Holte, Bill Collier, Margery and Tom Stallman, Tom McIsaac, Ann and Wes Saunders, Delores and Monroe Hatch, Virginia Wyman and Ray Hine, Debbie and John Adams, Lucy and Hank Mustin, Betty and Tom Cann, MG Buchanan, Al Kozischek and myself.

    The Glenn Warner Soccer Facility dedication ceremony was held on 4 November, and was well attended by ’55ers to honor Bill Anders’ financial support of and deep involvement in the project, and because of the Class of 1955’s past achievements on the soccer field. This facility has certainly raised the bar of excellence for athletic facilities. The Anders Hall of Honor, the prominent centerpiece of the facility, features trophy cases and display areas that depict Navy’s storied soccer history and tradition. One slight miscue was noted—where Navy All-Americans and team captains are honored, the picture of Bruce Newell was actually John J. Murphy (his 19th Co. Classmate) taken from the Lucky Bag. Oh well, they are both handsome devils! ’55 soccer stalwarts attending were: Joe Armstrong, Bill Anders, Ray Medeiros, Demo Kolaras, Tom Stallman, Wes Saunders, and Bruce Newell. They were joined at the ceremony by: Denny Sullivan, Jim Blandford, Don Sturtz, Tom Kiefaber, and John Adams. After the Navy team’s overtime victory over Lehigh, we met with Bill and Valerie for dinner out in town.

   Class Luncheon Schedule for 2002

    Do not throw this schedule away. Keep it in a handy place to find or enter the dates in your scheduler for the year. There will not be monthly luncheon announcements in the future, other than on the Class Internet for the Washington metro area. Luncheons will be held monthly on the second Wednesday of each month at Portofino Restaurant. A revised menu selection will be available which is slightly different from the past and provides a variety of items for our gourmet-oriented Classmates. At each luncheon Classmates are encouraged to tell those attending of their recent trips to distant as well as to local places and any significance of those travels that would be of interest to other Classmates who may have an interest in pursuing similar travels.

    Hartley Holte reports:

   Heard it on the Grapevine (’55Listserv)

    From Ned Floyd:

    From Dick Nelson:

    From Bob "Doc" Coulter:

   Taps

    It is sad to report that LCDR Charles Andrew Tarver, USN (Ret.) died 21 October 2001 in Virginia Beach, VA. Chuck spent a second career as a master mariner in the Merchant Marine, sailing many years as skipper of ARIES. He is survived by his wife, Virginia Miller Tarver, three daughters, two sons, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

   Potpourri

    Bob Boyd has not been a golfer, but looking for something to do around his summer cabin for the past five summers, he put together a homebuilt plane called a GlaStar. He test flew it for the first time 23 September—almost the same kick as his first trap aboard the carrier! The plane is similar to a Cessna 172 with two seats, powered by a Lycoming 160 HP engine. He looks forward to adding more to his Arizona flying experiences.

    The enclosed picture is of Vern Carlson with former Secretary of Defense Harold Brown. The photo was taken at a recent meeting of the University of California Institute on Global Conflict Resolution held at UCSD, San Diego. Vern has been an active member of the Institute for several years, going back to the days of the Cold War. This particular meeting was significant in that it celebrated the distinguished career of Dr. Herb York, Pres. Eisenhower’s Science Advisor and recently retired head of the Institute.

    The San Diego contingent of ’55 gathered at Lynne and Ned Floyd’s home on Saturday, 17 November to watch the Notre Dame game on TV. Others in attendance included Tom Boucher, Vern Carlson, Jo and Roger Coffey, Sandy and Chuck Henry, Dick Jones, Pat (Mrs. Charles E.) Kenney, Carol (Mrs. Harry C.) Schrader, and Peggy and Hugh Webster. It was a pleasure to have Chuck Henry there, having recently undergone chemotherapy. Otto Zipf filed a clipping from an Outer Banks (NC) newspaper proclaiming our Paul Sutherland as the "first mayor elected in Southern Shores’ history." Ironically, Paul was instrumental in obtaining the legislative changes needed for the town to switch from a system of the city council choosing one of its own as the mayor to the position being filled by the voters. Congratulations, Paul!