A gang of '55ers bussed up to the A/N game in Baltimore from the Army-Navy CC.
The cold, crisp day was livened up by our cheerleader, Al "King" Kozischek,
recruited from the west coast.  He let fly, at appropriate intervals, with
rousing navy cheers and fight songs (NAVY spelled out correctly this time!).
Of course, the game was magnificent particularly for those of us sitting on
the sunny side.  And the Navy commercials on the big screen were priceless.
On return from the game, we enjoyed a fine buffet dinner at the CC. Together,
we were:  Lucy &Hank Mustin with sons Lloyd & Tom and families, Bumpsy & Ace
Davis, Roz & Mal MacKinnon, Martha & Tony Bracken, Liz & Barry Hamilton,
Denny Sullivan, Debbie & John Adams, Tom Kiefaber, Syd & Fred Tolleson, and
big Al.  Sheila & Cal Weaver and Ursula Kiefaber joined us after the game for
dinner.

Hugh Webster reported on a west coast gathering for the Army-Navy game:
 

The San Diego Fifty-Five classmates had an enjoyable get-together to view the
A/N game.  Why we put ourselves out for potential heart attacks, I don't
know.  We won and that is what counts.  Our group included such stalwarts as:
Fran & Ken Highfill, Tom Shine, Joy & Roger Coffey, LaVerne & Dick Jones,
Carol Schrader, Pat Kenny, Rita & Dan Butterfield, my nemesis, George
Johnson, Bob Price, Jack Tallman, Karen & Bob Weir, Tom Boucher, Al
MacDiarmid, and Lilia & Terry Kowalski. Peggy did a super job providing a
brunch and the old goat (moi) did much coaching (Weav, Gattso and "Money"
would have protested).  Great bunch of '55ers!

Another A/N game story from Otto Zipf:
 

Under usual/normal circumstances, attending an Army-Navy game is not
noteworthy enough to write "home" (to Shipmate) about. However this one was
a bit different.  A funny thing happened to us on the way to the game.  Peggy
and I, plus six adult Zipf children with spouses, plus more, were staying at
the Admiral Fell Inn in the Fells Point area of Baltimore.  On Friday
afternoon, we strolled down to the waterfront to gaze at the USS
McINERNEY(FFG-8), tied up for the big game weekend.  The ship had a prominent
'55 banner on the 01 level rail, saying it all for the pending game.  But where
was the Class of '55 connection?  I went on board and spoke to the Duty
Chief.  He informed me that some civilian came on board and asked the ship to
display the banner.  I followed this lead and found out that the civilian is
a classmate of ours, Ed Kane.  I left a message for Ed at his office.  He
owns and operates a very successful water taxi company around Baltimore's
inner harbor and vicinity. On Sunday morning, Ed surprised us by joining us
as we were finishing breakfast at the Inn.  Enclosed also is a shot at the
Navy pre-game tailgate tent showing Darrel Westbrook, Peggy and me.

On the occasion of the Navy-SMU basketball game on December 9th, our late
classmate Don "Gooner" Lange was honored as one of Navy's all-time basketball
greats.  A reception was held in Alumni Hall before the game for the families
and friends of Don and Kevin Sinnett '79, the two players being honored.
Attending were: Donna & Jack Renard, Wilbur Peterson, Sabra & Bill
Kennington, Denny Sullivan, Tom Kiefaber and Hartley Holte.  At halftime of
the game, Don Lange's basketball number 13 was retired and now hangs in
Alumni Hall with that of John Clune, David Robinson, Kevin Sinnett, and
Vernon Butler.  As Wilbur Peterson picks up the story:
 

Dave Smalley, '57, did a nice job during his remarks about Don. He told some
Renard/Lange stories about Don and then introduced Don's family: wife Beth,
three children and several grandchildren. Dave's personal story about Don was
that when he was a plebe, Don and Joe Gattuso, came by their formation one
day and Don, "quite accidently" stepped on Smalley's shoe, and then
advised him he needed a shoe shine. During the reception I had several
minutes visiting with Beth so I did tell her one story that Don probably
never would have thought of telling or probably didn't even remember. It was
early in plebe year, about the time basketball season was starting but there
was no training table yet, or at least not that day, a Sunday. The tables in
the 5th Company were cut that day so Don and I were chopping around looking
for two places to sit and finally spotted two and so did the "permission
to come aboard sir" bit. Don was standing next to a rather short first
classman who was at the head of the table and Don was at the first side seat.
The first classman said, "You're pretty tall". Don replied "Yes Sir." "How tall are
you?" "Six feet five inches,sir". "Do you play basketball?" "Yes Sir". "Are
you on the plebe team?" "No Sir". The first classman proceeded to just blast a
guy like him being so tall and not being out there to support the plebe team.
The whole thing was between being brutal and funny. Then he says "What do
you do Mr. Lange?" "I'm on the varsity basketball team, Sir". Things were pretty
silent the rest of the meal. After the game Beth stopped me and said she was
certainly glad to hear that story, so I considered it an honor for Jack and I and
the rest to be there and kind of represent all of you guys.
 

 
He was one of the most wonderful guys, friendly and with a great sense of
humor. As midshipmen we used to fight to get the best seats at the basketball
games to watch Gooner and Don Clune '54.  Don loved every minute at the Naval
Academy.  Statistically, he was one of the best of his time. He ranks among
Navy's top 10 in several categories, but most notably, he is still No. 1 in
career rebound average at 11.9. He had 11 games in which he scored 30 or more
points and he had the third longest streak of double digit scoring games with
28.

Pat Taylor relays the appreciation expressed to all our classmates who
stepped up to the plate this past fall in support of the USS Wisconsin
(BB-64) Foundation effort. Those contributions were first acknowledged on the
centerpiece at every table at the Pre-Sail party hosted by the local
Shipyard, the Norfolk Mayor, and attending bigwigs. Then on Sail date, 7
December, 2000 (with Pat & Charley Plumly aboard representing those '55ers
who sailed on her during Mid cruise ), the Wiskey made berth at the Nauticus
Pier in the Waterside area of Norfolk.  Our class contributions were again
noted in a full-page ad in The Virginia Pilot, announcing all the donors who
contributed to the Wisconsin Foundation thus far...and proudly standing among
the "Commanders Club" ...up there with Rotary International, Xerox,
and Northwestern Mutual Financial...was the USNA Class of 1955!  The ship
looks magnificent downtown, and come next 14 April, 2001, in honor of her
original commissioning date in '43, she will be open for boarding/general
visiting.

Lynne and Ned Floyd returned to Coronado after spending the better part of
the fall in the East. Ned reports:
 

I now join the chorus who raved about our 45th reunion.We had a wonderful
time seeing old friends and making new friends. Our only regret is that we
ran out of time for seeing all attending classmates. There were so many more
with whom I wanted to talk. Bravo Zulu and thanks to the entire reunion
committee. We also enjoyed the Navy win in the Army game. We had four
tickets. My daughter, Jennifer, came down from New York (She had only seen
the Pasadena A-N game in '83 before). Her husband had to play the Christmas
Show at Radio City Music Hall that Saturday so he could not make it. My
brother Bill, Princeton '69, came instead (his first A-N game). Both
non-service academy relatives were enthusiastic inductees to the intense
spirit of the game. We also enjoyed the zingers on the jumbotron during
TV-commercial time-outs. Again USNA prevailed in the zingers as well as on
the playing field. Afterwards, I tried to order a tape of the zingers from
Academy, but, alas, they included copyright protected material. BEAT ARMY! We
spent the balance of our time east visiting family and enjoyed the
hospitality of the Kennington's, W. D. Smith's, W. W. Saunders's, and
Volgenau's. We are now back in Coronado letting our blood thin out again.

55's presence on the Outer Banks has been enhanced. Lee Turner and his wife
Lottie have purchased several pieces of property there. Pat and Paul
Sutherland (Lee's roommate for four years) had a delightful time with them on
New Year's Day at the Turner's house in Monterey Shores. Karen and Pat Taylor
and their son Cory and wife Cindy visited with the Sutherlands on 4 January.
They shared sea stories and old times and a drink or two.  Cory is the new
General Manager of their Country Club, Duck Woods, and a resident of Southern
Shores.

Hal Pabst asked for a small corner in the column:
 

When our son reached his teenage years, we started to suggest that he attend
the Academy, but to no avail.  We're smarter with the three grandchildren as
you can see.  Dorothy, our daughter Janice, and I took them to the Magic
Kingdom, Walt Disney World for a day of fun and excitement. From the left,
there's Paul (P.J.) who is 7, his sister Nicole, now 9 and their cousin
Chris, age 10.  All are properly outfitted with sweat shirt and cap..  And now
since females are permitted to attend, Nicole is not excluded. Got to start
them young if you want a chance at success!  By the way, we all had a great
day and didn't lose any of the kids!

The last tailgate party of 2000 (Navy-Wake Forest game) was documented by MG
Buchanan as evidenced by the photos enclosed.  It was great having Dick Morgan
back from heart bypass surgery.  His Coney Island hot dogs were a perfect
accompaniment to Tom McIsaac's clam chowder.

On the 3rd of March, the local Washington Chapter will be hosting the annual
Dark Ages Party - this one will be for the millennium - at the Hidden Creek
Country Club in Reston, VA.  The rest of the DC social schedule for the year
looks like this:
 
Mar 22      Joint DC Area/Tidewater Virginia luncheon at Tappahannock
 
April 17     First golf outing. Details/schedule to follow
 
April 26     Luncheon (with ladies) at Portofino
 
June 21     Luncheon at Portofino
 
TBD          Picnic (crab & shrimp feast) at Saunders'
 
Aug 30      Luncheon at Portofino
 
Oct 13       Homecoming - Class party after game
 
Oct 25       Luncheon at Portofino
 
Dec 6        Luncheon (with ladies) at Portofino
 

Class Membership in Alumni Association: Annual - 34%, Life - 35%.
 
 

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