From The Bridge - Issue 1

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  • From The Bridge - Issue 1
Below are the full feature articles from this issue.

TALE OF TWO CLASSES

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Jim Minderlein ’65 and Jeff Beard ’72 have a sea tale or two to share about the secrets to successful class giving. These fundraising chairs have brought significant class recognition through extraordinary results.

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With 24 years in the Navy as a pilot and two tours at the Academy, “Spit Shine Minderlein,” a moniker given by a fellow pilot because as XO he asked the crew to polish their flight boots, radiates pride for the time spent serving the Academy, and the support his class has given since 1965.

“I am the son of a uniformed Baltimore police officer and coming to the Academy was the best thing that ever happened to me.”

From serving ADM Larson as his executive assistant to living on the parade field during his second tour, and serving as a visitor center guide for the past 19 years, Minderlein said, “I’ve spent a third of my life here on the Academy!”

“At our 40th reunion, I said I would serve as the class president and major fundraiser. And for 17 years, I’ve enjoyed seeing our class rise to the occasion time after time. We presented our 50th reunion legacy gift to the Academy and we’re still getting contributions.” His class has raised over $4 million to support many projects including an Ethics Chair, Athletics Excellence Fund, and the Naval Academy Fund. “I’m really proud of a fourth project—the bronze goat at the stadium.”

Called the “keepers of the goat,” his class refurbished the goat trailer as well as the bronze goat located at Gate 1, given by the class of 1915. “Our class is 50 years after, kind of like the link in the chain going the other way, and we take care of that goat.”

Minderlein’s class provided donations of personal brass memorabilia from their careers, some of which were melted down and included in the bronze core for the goat pictured above—what couldn’t be melted was buried in the granite base under the goat. “This 5-year project was installed 50 years to the day from the day we graduated. We collected midshipmen insignia from the Another Link In The Chain Class of 2015 to be included as well.”

Minderlein says he's a big goat fan. “We created a solid bronze goat desk model, replicating the large display at Terwilliger.” Each has a serial number behind the right rear hoof—Roger Staubach has serial number 12.

“I’ve tried to encourage my classmates to give back to the institution that did so much for us. We had a great education and became great leaders. I felt strongly we should feel responsibility to give back, and I’m fortunate to have the support from my class; I think they trust me.”

When asked which project was the highlight, he said all of them, but one does stand out as particularly meaningful for him: a section of seats in section D at the stadium for his 23 classmates who were killed in action and in the line of duty. Each seat has our class crest with the date and circumstances of his death.

Since graduation, the class has raised nearly $22 million for various needs across the Yard. “For lifetime giving, our class is #4 in the 60’s decade and in the top 10 overall.”

In addition, the Class of ’65 has raised over $400K for the Plankowner project (7th highest) with 28 Plankowners for the new Alumni Center.

“You know, our donor participation rate is at the top of all the classes at 52.45%—last year, we were #1 from the decade in the 60’s.” With a big smile, he adds that “the Class of ’65 also won the 2022 Great Class Challenge again this year ... for the 9th year in a row!”

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Meanwhile, Jeff Beard ’72 has facilitated nearly $7 million in giving for various projects across the Yard and stadium for the Class of ’72.

Among many philanthropic achievements, Beard’s class has provided opportunities for midshipmen to engage in project-based learning, the creation of the Sports & Rehabilitation Center in Terwilliger Hall, established the Distinguished Military Professor (DMP) for Character Development, and always prioritizes the Naval Academy Fund. Beard terms this fund the “enabler of all fundraising” because, as an unrestricted tool, the fund has the unique power to support the Academy’s most immediate needs.

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After his tour serving (as a SWO) in the Navy and a marriage with two children, Beard entered the corporate scene with stints abroad in Europe (including Switzerland and Wales), earned an MS in Agri-Business, and an MBA. He ended up serving as Director General in his civilian career for the global International Baccalaureate (IB) program. Jeff's (and wife Cecily) daughter is currently living where she was born - in Wales, while their son is an '02 aviator graduate of the Naval Academy and has two children. He is also part of a dual Navy family serving at the Pentagon.

Around 2000, when his son was still in school here, Beard agreed to head up the class's fundraising, learning which projects his class was most interested in funding. Beard mused, “did you know that at (our now) age 72, you must take a required “minimum distribution” from your IRA …and it comes out as “income" whether you like it or not? The only way to avoid that reality is to donate it.”

Like Minderlein, Beard said he believes in the USNA mission. “I tell the class we got a free education—we’ve been doing pretty well—so let’s pay it forward; and no, the Naval Academy can’t do everything they want … if we don’t make it happen, it won’t get done.”

Beard described the project that really “caught fire” was supporting the DMP for Character Development. “We’ve been supporting the role for 15 years and have contributed enough to support the effort for 10 more years. Our class resonated with the role because we felt character was important, particularly in today's politically divided world. We felt strongly that today’s mids need to be grounded with a strong moral compass and the character to do what’s right.”

“I appreciate the gratitude the class has expressed for the leadership I’ve provided. I keep them well informed, but all I’m doing is helping them put their money behind the projects we most care about. Some have said no, others ‘you’ve persuaded me by helping the class believe in something … that this is right to do.’ I appreciate our class.”

Beard said his class enjoys continued interactions with the mids as well. “We are proud to sponsor the 20th company and they appreciate us; I was surprised. We’re their grandparents but we invite each other to events.”

“As part of the Another Link In The Chain program, our class participated in the 2022 graduation handing out butter bars. President Biden saw my ’72 hat as he came on stage, then acknowledged and recognized our class at the beginning of his remarks. That was exciting.”

One beacon that caught philanthropic headlines was the major transformation the class has made…from $1.7 million in the early 2000’s, to today. “This last campaign set a goal of $5 million, twice more than we had ever raised in the past, and we ended up exceeding it … we're now over $7 million!”

These project funds support (1) the Class of ’72 rehabilitation center (2) the DMP (3) project-based management (4) the Superintendent's Fund and (5) the new Alumni Association & Foundation Center.

“I think it’s part of my DNA,” said Beard. “I left the Navy, but ended up doing many of the same things: transferring to a new location every few years, leading people, leading organizations, and applying the leadership skills I learned in the Navy ... carrying those same skills forward into civilian life, like many of my classmates.”

Beard believes the individual decision to donate is gradual, growing over time. “I’m young and I’m not going to get married, oh, I want to get married, I’m not going to have kids, oh I want to have kids, etc. … it’s the same … we now end up supporting what we believe in through our philanthropy.”

Beard’s class arrived during the Vietnam War era. “We came in at the height of the Vietnam War, which was very unpopular, thus the public were not necessarily appreciative of our service to the country.” Much of Beard's class left during their plebe year. Out of 1,375 or so, only 949 graduated. “Many of those early departees have now reconnected with us for events and reunions; they typically say leaving the Academy was the worst decision of their lives. Throughout, our class has remained close. We just celebrated our 50th reunion, and nearly 700 classmates attended (with spouses & others, it topped out over 1,000). That says it all.”

The Class of ’72 raised $7.6 million for their 50th—a record. “Our class is proud to have raised more than any class in USNA history.” Since graduating, our class has raised $18.5 million!

“Jim and Jeff both jump at every opportunity to help support the Academy in ways that make sense for their classes—in Jim’s case, even long after their 50th reunion,” said Dan Quattrini, Director, Class Legacy Gift Programs, and donor relations contact for both class fundraisers. “These two gentlemen are as dedicated and loyal to the Naval Academy as they come, taking their fundraising positions seriously, both have the respect and adoration of their classmates.”

We thank the Classes of 1965 and 1972 for their commitment to support the Academy.

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When Patti Bender, the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation’s senior director of planned giving, first met Captain Robert “Bob” Larson ’59, USN (Ret.), she was moved. “Captain Larson impressed me as a true philanthropist,” Bender said. “It struck me that Bob, a pilot, and Virginia, a schoolteacher, discovered the joy that comes from giving to the organizations they love…it reminded me of the story of the biblical parable of the widow’s mite, where the widow intended to give all she had to God; this was an act of love and sacrifice.”

From an early age, Larson’s parents taught him about the importance of giving to others, and he and his wife Virginia continued that practice of giving both during, and after, their lifetimes. Captain Robert Larson passed away peacefully on 28 March 2022 in Leesburg, FL. His wife, Virginia, had passed prior.

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Their son, Robert Larson Jr., a Delta pilot based in Atlanta, GA, remembers the values of his parents well. “I was always taught by my parents to never spend more than you make, always save for your future. There were no handouts in the family, and we were encouraged to give a portion of our earnings to the church at an early age.”

Captain Larson directed some of their giving to the Naval Academy, while Virginia directed some of her philanthropy to her alma mater, Minnesota State University, and to her elementary school in honor of her fourth-grade teacher who inspired her to become a teacher.

Robert Larson Jr., said that his father wanted to inspire others to have the opportunities he was able to enjoy, “reminding us kids that not everyone can afford to do so. My dad was deployed twice flying the A-4C Skyhawks and participated in the Cuban Missile Crisis, and then flew test flights in the A7 Corsair II and the F8 Crusader. He flew F8’s in Dallas and A-4s in Norfolk for the Reserve.”

Larson was recalled back to active duty, commanded RVAH-1, and eventually took command of NROTC at Iowa State University before retiring in 1986 to instruct for Northwest and fly for PanAm.

“Dad would say the Naval Academy afforded him the opportunities he never imagined and he wanted to offer something to mids they may not get the opportunity to do without his support,” Larson Jr. said.

“In addition to a lifetime of President’s Circle giving,” Bender said, “he and his wife Virginia wanted to do something more.” Larson noted that his granddaughter had a transformative experience during a study abroad in Spain, and after seeing the impact on her, wanted to explore a way to provide the same for midshipmen. There was a need for the Academy to offer this kind of training in Arabic-speaking countries, so, Captain Robert L. ’59 and Virginia R. Larson International Scholars was born. This named Fund continues to support midshipmen to experience leadership-building opportunities abroad.

“What a legacy he left,” said Larson Jr. “My father loved to receive the impact letters from mids, and highly valued the time it took them to write that letter.”

Larson Scholar, MIDN 1/C Beth Miller ’23 said, “I am not exaggerating when I claim that this experience has single-handedly opened my eyes ... that will directly impact my leadership style and career as a Naval or Marine Corps officer.” Miller continued, “I learned from Israeli Defense Force students in Haifa the importance of duty and national pride. The best way I can illustrate the impact this had on students other than myself is a story about how after we visited the Syrian, Jordanian, and Lebanese borders in the Golan Heights … we learned that understanding the priorities of our friends and enemies alike will always give us a better insight into how to win wars and be good allies than any generalization or stereotype ever could.”

All told, the Larsons gave over $1 million through lifetime and estate gifts, providing a legacy of support for midshipmen for years to come. “I am so proud of his lifetime of service that continues through these midshipmen today,” Larson Jr. said.

You can preserve your legacy in just one sentence. By including a gift to the USNA Alumni Association and Foundation in your will, you can help shape tomorrow without giving away any of your assets today. Simply ask your attorney to add this suggested wording to your document:

I give to the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation Inc., a corporation,
located in Annapolis, MD 21402, the sum [specific $ amount or
property/percent of estate/percent of residuum].

To set up your own named fund, visit usna.planmylegacy.org, talk to a gift officer at the Foundation (410-295-4100), or jennifer.macris@usna.com.

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In less than a year, alumni will have an opportunity to walk through the Miller Family Garden—a beautiful area adorning the landscape outside the new U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association & Foundation Center. This garden will honor the Miller family’s multi-generational history and connection to the Naval Academy.

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Rear Admiral William C. Miller ’62, USN (Ret.), is a 2014 Distinguished Graduate Awardee and former Academic Dean and Provost for the Academy. He and his wife, Barbara, are the parents, grandparents, and parents-in-law of Naval Academy graduates. Beloved patriarch of the family, Miller served as the Executive Assistant to Admiral McKee when he was the Superintendent and then, as the Dean, Miller helped lead the Academy’s recognition as one of the nation’s leading undergraduate engineering schools. More than 10,000 junior officers graduated from the Naval Academy on his watch.

Their son, William “Bill” Miller Jr. ’88, made a Foundation gift to name the new facility’s garden in honor of his father, the other Miller family graduates, and the significance of his family’s many years on the Yard.

“As a child, I lived on the Yard,” said Miller. “I was the Academy’s The Evening Capital newspaper boy for three years.”

For his parents, his siblings, and his children, living on, visiting, or supporting the Academy has always been “a bit of a theme for our family,” said Miller. “We have even held three generations of weddings at the chapel.”

Miller’s daughter, Grace Miller, is a 2018 graduate and is currently serving as the DCA on the USS Sampson (DDG-102). His daughter, brother-in-law, Doug Schaus ’76, and nephew, Lieutenant Commander Brian Schaus ’08, USN (now a senior instructor for the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department) are also contributing and being recognized at the Miller Family Garden. “My nephew actually received his diploma from his grandfather—my father and the Dean—which was quite unique. My daughter graduated 10 years after my nephew and 30 years to the day after me … what a special legacy our family shares.”

As Dean, Miller’s father partnered with the Foundation to raise more than $50 million in philanthropic support for academic programs and worked closely with the director of athletics to significantly improve varsity athlete graduation rates.

“During his career, my father only worked four years outside the service of the Navy and was the first graduate to serve as Dean,” said Miller. “His impact as both a naval officer and the Dean is why he was recoginized as a DGA in 2014.”

Miller, who was recently selected by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as a 2022 Most Admired CEO, said the Naval Academy makes you the kind of person you are in the Fleet and in the professional world. “It still influences how I lead.”

“The buildings can change, the policies even, but the Academy traditions are the ones that all of us latch onto for life. Sharing these traditions with classmates and family graduates tightens our bond and makesthe shared experiences even more meaningful.” In the end, Miller says he’s thrilled that he made the decision to permanently intertwine his family legacy with the Academy.

“It’s extremely satisfying to know the benefit to others as I write the check this year. The garden is not for outside recognition, it’s for my family, their kids, and others who may see it and be inspired to be part of the Academy too. If you want to invest in something in the lives of future graduates and ultimately the nation, I highly recommend considering the Academy and the Foundation.”

Make An Impact Today

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Captain Skip Wiegand ’73, USN (Ret.), and his wife Margaret, parents of Matthew A. Wiegand ’08, a helicopter pilot who passed away during a training mission in Yuma, AZ, honored their son’s legacy by launching the Matthew M. Wiegand, USMC, USNA ’08 Memorial Scholarship and the Major Matthew M. Wiegand History Internship through the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association & Foundation. 

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The internship fund allows a midshipman to study at the Marine Corps History Center at Quantico.

“Our son was a Foundation Scholar through the Athletic & Scholarship Programs, so when all this happened, we wished to preserve his memory with something that can grow, something that’s alive and well … and a direct service to recipients,” said the Wiegands.

“We have needed to keep busy after our son’s death, and I think as a couple we have made the most of our time.” Married 44 years, Wiegand met his wife on a blind date around Halloween. “I got treated, she got tricked.”

The first Major Matthew M. Wiegand, USMC, USNA ’08 Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Tanner Russell from Kalispell, MT who attended Northwestern Prep. “Tanner is doing well, and we’re pleased with that.”

“Matt also loved lacrosse and was a member of the Naval Academy Club Lacrosse Team. We are happy to continue support of the team through donations to the Foundation, where Matt’s teammate and great friend Colin Smith ‘09 is now the coach of the club. The team dedicated its 2019 national championship season to Matt, and we continue to cheer the team on.”

Two friends and fellow Marines, Major Matt Wood ’08, USMC, and Major Brooke Datko ’08 (nee Campbell), USMC, both instructors at the Academy at the time, helped launch the internship idea. Two midshipmen per year with an interest in history (Matt’s major at the Academy)—and potential USMC service selectees—would spend a summer training period at MCAB Quantico doing research at both the USMC archives and at the National Museum of Marine Corps. This research would also provide a basis for a Capstone project—the culminating academic experience for all 1/C midshipmen.

The first two midshipmen who participated were Midshipman Colin Brennan ’23 and Midshipman Cannon Breen ’23. “We were delighted to meet these three outstanding recipients and are grateful to the Foundation and the History Department for arranging these meetings. Over time, we’ll keep checking up on them to keep it vibrant.”

After the establishment of the scholarship and internship, the couple explored other possibilities. The U.S. Marine representative at the Academy introduced them to Major General James Lukeman, president and CEO of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, with a mission to support educational activities and exhibits at the National Museum of the Marine Corps.

Matt began flying with his dad at age 12 at NAS JRB Willow Grove. His father said he was destined to be an aviator and loved his tours at MAWTS-1 as a student and an instructor, so something related to Marine aviation seemed a perfect fit.

The Wiegands now sponsor two exhibits at the National Museum of the Marine Corps. The first educates visitors about Major Gregory “Pappy” Boyington, the father of Marine Aviation, and the second will be a hanging AH-1W Super Cobra—the same helicopter once flown by Matt.

“Giving in this way never makes you quite whole, but it makes you happy,” said the Wiegands.