George W. Martin (14) and Dottie were visiting Newport RI for the Naval War college graduation and looked up Joan & Bill Turcotte (14). Bill is the professor of management and has held the prestigious Chair of Management since he retired from active duty. Bill claims the Martin's son Mike is the first son of a classmate to graduate from the senior course, College of Naval Warfare. But Bill was into denial claiming "I'm too young to have the son of a classmate graduate from the senior course." Bill and Joan are well dug in in Newport Navy, golf, and fishing circles. Their home has a great view of Rhode Island sound and the Atlantic ocean.

Two 22nd Co. 55ers, C.A. Edwards and Dale Crosier are pictured with matching USNA 55 license plates and cars. They roomed together for four years in Bancroft Hall, and apparently developed similar attitudes. This recent picture was taken in Phoenix, AZ where Dale and Alice were visiting CA and Nancy. CA continues his law practice in Phoenix and Dale is a retired technical manager from the 3M Co., who just completed construction of their new home in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Received the following informative letter and picture from Hal Pabst (17):

After the hat throwing ceremony, Bob Hlavek (4) and I reported to Keesler AFB for electronics maintenance school, after which we both ventured off to Japan for duty at radar sites tracking MIGs. A year later, we returned to CONUS and reported to Griffis AFB to take up a career in radar evaluations.

That companionship only lasted a few more months because Bob passed the flight physical and headed off for basic training. I continued on with radar systems romping all over the US plus Texas Towers and Picket Ships for a few more years until I told the coach, I quit! I went back to my dream of Naval Air and if I couldn't fly them, I'd help build them, working for the Grumman Corp. Life went on, but wife Dorothy and I often thought of Bob and Elaine and wondered what they were doing. Then came the 40th Reunion and who, to our wondering eyes, should appear but Bob and Elaine. It was great to renew old friendships and there was much to talk about. But then in April and May, these two ventured from their home in sunny Arizona to visit friends and relatives on a round robin journey of the Southeast and Northeast states. Stopping by for a few days to visit us in the Nation's oldest city, St. Augustine, FL, we really had the time to get re-acquainted and talk about the early days. We even pulled out the old movies and stills and had a few good laughs. We spent a lot of time by the pool sipping whatever was the best tasting.

TAPS. J.E. "Phil" Harmon (17) passed away at his home in Sunrise, FL on June 19, 1997. He is survived by his wife Barbara (Bobbie)and three children; Charles (Chic), Richard (Rick) and Susan, as well as 9 grandchildren, his father James E. Harmon and sister Joyce Clounch both of Dallas, Texas. Phil's wife Bobbie can be reached at: 9220 NW 25th Street Sunrise, FL 33322; tel: (954) 572-8230 James H. Dickinson (3), Col USAF (Ret) of Longwood, FL died April 18, 1997 after a brief illiness. Jim was born in Port Angeles, WA on August 3, 1933 and attended schools in Port Angeles, Sedro Wooley and Marysville. Jim graduated from Marysville High School and was appointed to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis by Senator Henry Jackson in 1951. After his training at the Academy, he entered the Air Force Pilot Training Program and in 1962 earned a MS in Aeronautical Engineering at the Air Force Institute of Technology. Jim served in the Air Force over a quarter century. During his service he was decorated with U.S. Air Force Commendation Medals for sustained outstanding airmanship and for outstanding performance as a forward air controller and the Silver Star for heroic performance during a helicopter rescue mission in Vietnam. Jim continued his career in the Air Force with this same dedication until his retirement in 1981. He then turned his attentions to aerospace in the private sector. Jim leave his wife, Mae Dickinson of Longwood, FL; daughter Jeanne Chacon and husband, Ric of San Diego; son, Mike and wife, Melissa of Las Vegas. He also leaves his sons, Carl and Michael of Florida. Mae Dickinson can be reached at: 1301 Classic Dr., Longwood, FL 32779; tel: (407) 869-9401.

George H. Martin (16) reported Jim's death and added a vignette:

Jim's hometown of Marysville, WA is located 5 miles north of Everett where Jerry Gerdon (16) and I grew up. Youngster vacation, Jerry was able to convince the local Hudson dealer that he could save transportation costs by letting the three of us drive a new Hudson Hornet from Detroit to Everett.

Thanks to Dave Reedy (17) and his mother, we got a ride with them to Detroit to pick up the car. We'd hardly warmed up the engine and were still in the outskirts of Detroit when a truck threw a rock cracking the windshield. This was the year when Hudson first introducted their the one piece front window. Needless to say, Jerry had a lot to explain to the dealer when he delivered it some three days later!

BINNACLE LIST. Gene Crosby (16) successfully underwent lung cancer surgery recently at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, FL, and is back in North Florida recuperating At this writing, he is scheduled to return to Moffitt in August for removal of a tumor on an adrenal gland, the only known malignancy remaining. Bob Hinton (23) is home in Arlington, VA recovering from prostate surgery performed in early June. Geoff Gardner (13) recently was told that not all cancer cells were removed with a malignant kidney in October of last year. At last report, Geoff was weighing his options regarding further treatment.

Paul Sutherland (7) reported in from the Outer Banks:

All continues to go very well on this island. Just had lunch & dinner with Don Loosley (7) and Donna Reinhardt. Don was up from Wilmington, NC for a week in his time share here. Naturally good seeing them both. Prior to dinner at our club, we had a few of the cruise group over for cocktails. Don/Donna knew some but there are additions from down here this time. So far 22 have signed up for the Panama Canal cruise. Planning another Tidewater/NC Class luncheon on 23 September. Don has reserved his timeshare for 23 September so both he and Donna will be at the 23 Sept. luncheon. It will be preceded by Bloody Marys/Orange Blossoms at our casa. I will be sending out flyers as the date gets closer. As you know last year there was a great turnout and I anticipate more this year. Lynn and Dan Shields (16) just down for an overnight with us. They had some things to do with selection of items for their new home (Outer Banks). They will close on the 21st of July and move in on 1 August. They'll be great new neighbors around the corner! Both will cease the daily work-world grind and be of the retired gentry.

Carl Strang (16) heard this from George McMurtry (21):

I don't know whether you remember me, but I remember you and several others from the 16th Company because I was very close to Jim Rothrock and Jim Gussett. I visited Jim a couple of years ago but have lost track of Jim. I haven't been very active with USNA activities, but would like to take advantage of whatever opportunities there are on the Web. After leaving active duty in 1959, I stayed in the Naval Reserve until retirement as a Commander. I went to Notre Dame for a Master's degree in 1961 and to Purdue for a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering in 1965. After 2 years with General Electric in Syracuse, I came to Penn State University in 1967 and have been here ever since. I started on the faculty and am now the Associate

Dean for Administration and Planning in the College of Engineering. I had planned to retire at the end of June, but have agreed to stay on through December 1997. I married the former Margaret Barrett from Norfolk, whom I met by taking her name from an address book that Jim Rothrock gave me when he was transferred from Norfolk! We were married in 1967 and have six children, all graduates from Penn State. One of our daughters, however, did a student internship at USNA in the Athletic Department where she met a Midshipman in the Class of 1993. They are now married, have a son, and are living in San Diego where he is stationed. Another 55'er, Ray Lunnen (10), is here in State College. I believe he was in the First Regiment at the Academy. He and his wife, Gloria, live about a block away from us. Ray came to Penn State, after retiring from the Air Force, and obtained his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering. He then worked at the Applied Research Laboratory here for a few years before retiring again a couple of years ago.

That's all the time I have for now.

George McMurtry can be reached at: Dr. George J. McMurtry, Associate Dean for Administration and Planning, College of Engineering, 101 Hammond Building, Penn State University , University Park, PA 16801, tel: (814)-865-2151.

Several new classmates have joined the '55 net. Heartiest of welcomes to: George H. Martin in Sequim, WA (gmartin@olympus.net); Don Loosley in Southport, NC (loosley@bcinet.net); Bob Hinton in Arlington, VA (hinton@doaks.org); Claude Fuqua (7) in Dallas, TX (CTFIII@aol.com); George McMurtry at State College, PA (GJMDO@engr.psu.edu); James R. O'Neil (12) in Orlando, FL(rioslapshot@webtv.net); and John Nyquist (16) in Coronado, CA (JNYQUIST@thermotrex.com). By the way, Don Loosley's new address is: 3874 Harmony Circle S. E., Southport, NC 28461;

Conceptual planning for the 45th Reunion has begun. Dates are October 18-22, 2000 and the Saturday football game is with Rutgers. We have over 100 rooms reserved at the Annapolis Marriott which is on the waterfront within walking distance of the Yard. We also have additional rooms reserved at the Days Inn on Route 50 (same as for the 40th). We still have a long way to go - if you have any ideas, put them on our Listserv or call me at (703) 759-7743 or another Washington area Classmate.

Go to top of this page