Staunton Military Academy Alumni NewsletterPublished by the Staunton Military Academy Foundation � Staunton, Virginia

Third Quarter � August 2003

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Board of Directors ................... 2President�s Message ............... 2NewsNotes ............................ 3Museum Visitors ..................... 52003 Reunion Attendees .......... 6TAPS ..................................... 7TAPS ..................................... 8TAPS ..................................... 9TAPS ................................... 10Cadet Store ......................... 11Dues/Contribution Form ........ 12

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

�Loved the parade on Friday.��It was great to meet some of Mary

Baldwin�s VWIL cadets. April is agreat time to hold the reunion.�

�I learned what kind of man, andhero, Sgt. Graham was at the Memo-rial Wall Plaque Dedication.�

Those were a few of the commentsfrom alumni attending SMA�s 2003All-Class Reunion April 4-6.

On a beautiful spring afternoon inthe Shenandoah Valley SMA alumnikicked off the 2003 reunion bymarching as a unit in a full dressparade for the first time since theacademy closed in 1976.

Thanks to the Corps of Cadets ofMary Baldwin�s Virginia Women�s In-stitute for Leadership (VWIL), SMAalumni were honored at a pass in re-view ceremony that was second tonone. The VWIL Corps carried theSMA colors in its color guard (as theyalways do), and the band played �TheBlue and Gold� during the parade.

The April 4 event brought back alot of memories for the cadets whoparticipated in the event on KableField. As Bill Kearns, SMA �74, SMAAlumni Association and FoundationPresident said in addressing thosepresent, �I remember marching onthis field, playing football and run-ning track here � I�m sure thisbrings back memories to all of us.�

Dr. Virginia Tyson, president ofMary Baldwin, also spoke at the eventand welcomed the SMA alumni backto �their campus.� Dr. Tyson, thelongest-serving president in MaryBaldwin�s history, will retire from thecollege this summer.

During the ceremonies, the VWILcadets presented SMAA Past Presi-dent Tom Phillips, SMA �74, with aframed certificate thanking him forhis involvement with VWIL duringthe two years he headed the alumniassociation.

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SMA Alumni enjoy new time and new eventsat 2003 reunion; ��04 affair set for April 2-4

Colonel Edward L.Dodge dead at 80

Colonel EdwardL. �Beebo� Dodge,80, SMA �42 and along time facultymember and men-tor to hundreds ofSMA cadets, diedMay 16 at his homein Staunton.

Please see the�Taps� section ofthis issue of The Kablegram for a de-tailed obituary and tribute.

A memorial web page has beenposted on the associations�s website� www.sma-alumni.org/id100.htm.Alumni who wish to add commentsto this memorial should e-mail themto WebMaster@sma-alumni.org.

Paul �Ike� Kivlighan, SMA �29 (left) and Jay Nedry,SMA �69 observe the Kable wreath-laying cer-emony at Thornrose Cemetery. Started in 2001,the ceremony honors SMA�s founder, CaptainWilliam H. Kable.

Brocky Nicely, SMA �65 and Craig Hanson, SMA�74 share a memory or two at the banquet re-ception Saturday, April 5.

Edward L. Dodge

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The KablegramC. David Litzenburg, �58 ..... Editor

SMA Alumni AssociationP.O. Box 958

Staunton, VA 24402-0958Phone: (540) 885-1309

Email: kablegram@sma-alumni.org

To contact Bill by e-mail: President@sma-alumni.orgor wkearns1@aol.com

The Kablegram is published fourtimes each year by the SMA AlumniAssociation. Editorial and photo-graphic submissions are welcome.

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Bill Kearns

Bill

President .................. Bill Kearns, �74Vice President ...................................

C. David Litzenburg, �58Secretary ............ Gene Ehmann, �74Treasurer ................... Tom Davis, �62

PERMANENT AND AD-HOCCOMMITTEES

Alumni RelationsGene Ehmann, �74 ............ ChairmanMark Orr, �73 ...................... Member

FinanceTom Davis, �62 ................... Member

LegalTom Phillips, �74 ............... ChairmanTom Davis, �62 ................... Member

ScholarshipsStuart Smith, �48 ............. ChairmanC. David Litzenburg, �58 .... Member

Annual FundraisingGene Ehmann, �74 ............. MemberBill Kearns, �74 ................... Member

ReunionTom Phillips, �74 ............... ChairmanJack Dalbo, �68 .................. MemberDon Tobin, �70 .................. Member

SMA-VWIL MuseumBrocky Nicely, �65 ............. ChairmanMark Orr, �73 ...................... MemberJack Lowe, �49 .................. MemberJohn Hooser, �73 ................ MemberStuart Smith, �48 .............. MemberJack Dalbo, �68 .................. Member

WebsiteMark Orr, �73 ..................... ChairmanJohn Hooser, �73 ................ Member

TThe SMA Alumni Association�s annual reunion was held the firstweekend of March and was an outstanding event. It was my firstopportunity to observe the Corps of Cadets of the VWIL Programand I was profoundly impressed. Mary BaldwinCollege has a main campus enrollment of un-der 1000 students and over 130 are enrolled inVWIL. There are firm plans for this number togrow in the future. I was struck by the qualityof the young women in the program who areseriously preparing for leadership roles in boththeir communities and our Armed Forces. Thereare currently 22 VWIL graduates deployed inAfghanistan or Iraq as junior officers. The SMAAlumni were honored by VWIL with a parade itwas a thrilling experience to see such outstand-ing cadets, on the same parade field where generations of SMA ca-dets drilled, participated in sports and learned lessons that wouldserve our country in peace and conflict, carry on our traditions withpride and enthusiasm. The VWIL cadets carry the SMA flag in theircolor guard; it was their decision to do so and we are profoundlygrateful. They are worthy successors to our beloved campus andwe can all be confident that Staunton Military Academy�s long andhonorable history is serving as an important part of the foundationof The Virginia Women�s Institute for Leadership. In recent years agroup of highly motivated SMA alumni established the SMA/VWILmuseum and in the process established a close friendship betweenMary Baldwin and SMA. During this year our board will exploreways to increase our association with the VWIL program and hasappointed Gene Ehmann (74) to chair a committee tasked with se-curing the museums financial future and to establish a program tohelp Mary Baldwin College with their Corps of Cadets. I want toencourage all of you to attend the reunion. I cannot begin to de-scribe the pleasure you will experience marching with the VWILcadets on your parade field.

An impressive event!

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

MUSEUM VISITORS

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NEWSNOTES

The City of Staunton declared April26, 2003 as Colonel Robert H. WeaseDay. In addition, Virginia GovernorMark R. Warner issued a proclama-tion honoring Colonel Wease.

Colonel Wease taught at SMA from1956 until 1976, when he joined thefaculty at Fishburne Military School,where he continues to teach,

The proclamation acknowledgesColonel Wease�s nearly 50 years ofteaching, having instructed threegenerations of cadets, many of whomhave become leaders in government,public service, education, the armedforces, law, and the business world.

The proclamation described Colo-nel Wease as �the consummateteacher who always gives his best andpersonifies the ideal of the scholargentleman.�

The document was presented toColonel Wease in a private ceremonyduring the Fishburne Military Schoolannual reunion weekend.

Colonel Wease honoredby City of Staunton andCommonwealth

SMA graduate serveswith General Franks

Russell Penniman, SMA �75, a U.S.Naval Academy graduate, recentlyserved with Central Command un-der General Tommy Franks in Op-eration Iraqi Freedom.

First Lieutenant Juliana Petre,U.S. Army, a 2001 graduate of VWILand a 1999 recipient of the SMAAAscholarship, recently reported thatshe has been stationed in South Ko-rea, serving with the Second Infan-try Division.

1LT Petre, in a letter to Mary Bald-win College, noted that she has re-cently been assigned to the S-1Adjutant�s position. Prior to her re-assignment she had been in chargeof the maintenance shops.

VWIL graduate servesin South Korea

Nicholas F. Vames ............. Roanoke, VA(son of Thomas Virginiames� SMA faculty, �61-74)

Pete Vames ..................... Staunton, VA(son of Thomas Virginiames� SMA faculty, �61-74)

Futon B. Kegley II ..................Bland, VA(son of Fulton B. Kegley, SMA faculty)

Michelle L. Rogerson .......... Ashburn, VAVWIL �99

Linda Ramsey .................. Staunton, VABrenda Pennel ................. Staunton, VAEire Brown ...................... Staunton, VATom and Kathleen Rose ..... Staunton, VASue Wenger .................... Staunton, VAJoAnne Berg .................... Staunton, VABarbara Richardson .......... Staunton, VAMarjorie Hoge .................. Staunton, VABarbara HalVirginian ...... Woodstock, VABeverly Virginian Lear ...... Mt. Sidney, VAKathy Crawford Arrowsmith, Lexington,

South Carolina, MBC �70Connie Kennedy........... Waynesboro, VAMary Shay and Tom Neumann,

Staunton, VAStuart and Clarice Allen ..... Staunton, VADewey Ferrerhelm ......... Churchville, VAPat Christensen ......... Charlottesville, VAAlbert Merritt, Waynesboro, VA, SMA �51Jack Lowe, SMA �49 .......... Staunton, VAHarper & Doris Phillips .. Waynesboro, VAPatricia Anderson ............. Staunton, VAGladys N. Showalter .......... Staunton, VAAnnette Schwartz ............. Staunton, VACharles and Ruth Jordan Ft. Defiance, VAMr. and Mrs. John Virginiaughn III,

Amelia, VAKatie and Ted Cathey ........ Staunton, VALarry E. Curry .................... Verona, VALola Curry ......................... Verona, VALaurie Jones (VWIL) ........................ NYAllen and Melissa Archer ... Staunton, VALisa Marks .................. Massanutten, VARosalee Laekner ................ Crimora, VAJeanne and Norman Wenger,

Harrisonburg, VABetty Mattox .................... Staunton, VABettie Clifton .................... Staunton, VABrandon Krusz, Jr. ............. Staunton, VABlair Krusz ....................... Staunton, VAMarge Boney ..............Waynesboro, VABetty Putney ...............Waynesboro, VA

Carolyn Hensley............... Staunton, VA(Admissions, MBC)

Barbara Deyerle ............... Grottoes, VATom Davis, SMA �62 ......... Staunton, VAAl Painter, SMA �58........... Staunton, VADon Windley, SMA �70 . Stuarts Draft, VAJohn Hooser, SMA �73 ... Middlebrook, VAJames �Monk� Hayslep, SMA �75

Memphis, TNLisa Kirtz, MBC �78 ........... Staunton, VAHeidi Clemmer, MBC �78 ..Darnestain, MDNathaniel Beaman III, SMA �41

Norfolk, VASusan Neale, MBC �78 ...... Lexington, KYLane and Travis Bass, MBC �78

Roswell, GACol. Melissa E. Patnik, MBC �78

Heidelberg, GermanySharon L. Scott, MBC �93

Mechanicsville, VALee W. Lawrence, SMA �56

Stevensville, MDArthur O. Stern, SMA �57 ..... Sharon, VTThornton �Doc� Saffer, SMA �57

Middleburg, VA,Larry Marks, SMA �55 ........... Boone, NCBarry M. Goldwater, Jr., SMA �57

Phoenix, AZ,

The list of SMA-VWIL Museum visitors was compiled through May 19, 2003. Thosewho have visited the museum since then will be listed in the next Kablegram.

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2003 REUNION� Continued from page 1 �

The parade began at 4:00 p.m. and was followed by aplaque dedication at the SMA-VWIL Museum. The namesof one SMA alumni and two faculty/staff members �Manly Hubbs, SMA �34, Colonel Stewart S. Pitcher andFirst Sergeant Charles O. Graham � were added to theSMA Memorial Wall.

Manley Hubbs, a World War II veteran and past presi-dent of the alumni association, was B Company SupplySergeant and served on The Kablegram staff during histime at SMA. After a successful career in the insuranceindustry, he devoted a great deal of time in service toSMA, especially during efforts to reestablish the school.

Colonel Pitcher, a former superintendent and head ofthe mathematics department, served SMA from 1912-1969.First Sergeant Graham, a veteran of World War II andthe Korean War with three Silver Stars, was an ROTCinstructor, rifle team coach and Howie Rifles advisor atSMA from 1956-1959 and 1966-1976. VWIL participatedin the ceremony including the Color Guard and First Cap-tain Amada Bennett, a recipient of the SMA LeadershipScholarship.

Saturday events began at 9:00 a.m. with the annual meet-ing chaired by President Bill Kearns �74. Alumni were up-dated on the financial status of the association and founda-tion, and there was an initial discussion regarding a majorfundraising effort. Alumni voted to amend the association�sbylaws to remove term limits for directors.

Under blue skies, the third annual wreath-laying cer-emony honoring SMA�s founder, Captain William H.Kable, was held at 12:30 p.m. at Thornrose Cemetery. Inaddition to alumni and friends gathered at the Kable fam-ily plot, Page Kable Bonfoey, the great granddaughter ofCaptain Kable, spoke at the event. Brocky Nicely, SMA�65, the SMA-VWIL Museum�s curator, arranged for andparticipated as a Confederate reenactor in a color guardthat presented colors and fired a three-volley salute. PatKelley �72, who was in Band Company during his yearsat SMA, played �Taps� on his bugle, bringing a fittingend to the tribute to the man whose vision provided aneducation for thousands of cadets during SMA�s 116 yearsof existence.

The Corps was then free for the afternoon to roam oldhaunts in Staunton and visit the SMA-VWIL museum.Of course, some Old Boys paid a sentimental visit toMarino�s to quench their thirst and check on the where-abouts of Ike Kivlighan �29, a regular patron at Marino�s.

Saturday evening, the alumni banquet was held at theHoliday Inn. Cadets were joined by a host of former SMAfaculty and staff, including Col. William Pandak, Col. Ed�Beebo� Dodge, Col. Bob Wease, Major Tommy Vames,Phil Carletti, Claude (Chick) Crawford, Sergeant FirstClass Frank Demory, and Mrs. Fred Thacker. OtherGuests included Page Bonfoey, Dr. Brenda Bryant, Di-rector of the VWIL Program, and Brig. Gen. Mike Bis-sell, VWIL Commandant.

President Kearns paid tribute to First Sergeant Gra-

ham, whose wife, daughters and son-in-law were in at-tendance. As a special remembrance of the old soldier,Mrs. Graham brought First Sergeant. Graham�s Class Ablouse complete with rank, ribbons and insignia. Thejacket was draped over a chair at the Graham table.

Dr. Tyson addressed the gathering, delivering a ring-ing endorsement of the viability and need for the VWILprogram at Mary Baldwin. Dr. Tyson has been a truefriend of SMA, and she is an honorary life member ofthe alumni association.

�All in all, it was a great weekend,� said Reunion Chair-man Tom Phillips.

�Because of the presence of the VWIL Corps and theirwillingness to hold a Friday parade, in addition to thenice spring weather, we�re going to hold next year�s re-union at the same time, which is the first weekend inApril,� he added, noting that the association will try toadd some new activities, and hope that even more alumnican make it to the 2004 reunion.

�You can always think of a reason not to come, but Ican�t think of anyone who�s ever told me they regrettedattending an SMA reunion�, Phillips said.

SMA math instructor Major Tommy Vames and his wife (left) reminisce withMr. and Mrs. John Hooser, SMA �73, at the banquet reception.

Mary Baldwin College President Virginia Tyson (left), Cadet Jennifer Kukla,and Brig. Gen. Mike Bissell, VWIL Commandant, strike a pose for the cameraat the banquet reception. Cadet Kukla will be the First Captain of the VWILCorps in the 2003-2004 school year.

Your SMAAA dues make The Kablegram possible!....and the publication of stories like the one above and those on

other pages of this issue.Help make things happen! Send your $50.00 dues today to

SMA Alumni AssociationP. O. Box 958 Woodrum StationStaunton, Virginia 24402-0958

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NEWSNOTESMei Ling Fye awarded2003 SMA LeadershipScholarship

Cadet Mei Ling Fye is the recipi-ent of the 2003 SMA Alumni Asso-ciation Leadership Scholarship.

The award is presented annually�to a cadet who exhibits strong lead-ership qualities, high academic stan-dards and is committed to one of theROTC programs at the VirginiaWomen�s Institute for Leadership.�

Cadet Fye will enter her junioryear in September, majoring in in-ternational relations and minoring inleadership studies and music. Shemaintains a strong 3.5 grade pointaverage.

Cadet Fye is an accomplished pia-nist and plays the meophone in theVWIL band. During the 2002-2003year, Cadet Fye was on the S-2 pub-lic relations staff, played varsity soc-cer, and served on the college�s HonorCouncil and was in charge of theCorps VIP briefing team.

During the 2003-2004 year, CadetFye will be the band�s Drum Major.This summer, she will be earning herparachutist�s wings at the U.S. ArmyAirborne School.

Mei Ling Fye

Uniforms donatedto museum

Lt. Col. Edwin L. Kennedy, Jr., aformer friend of Edwin StevensYoung, SMA �22, recently donatedYoung�s uniforms to the SMA-VWILMuseum. Young died in 1998.

�Captain Young and I were friendsand I knew him from 1977 until hisdeath in 1998�, Kennedy said, add-ing that Young had been a veteranU.S. Army NCO and officer.

According to Kennedy, Youngserved in the Kansas Army NationalGuard and was mobilized duringWorld War II in the 36th ArmoredInfantry Regiment. He was not sentoverseas, but instead served as aninstructor at Fort Knox, Kentucky.He was commissioned during the warbut reduced in rank after the warduring demobilization. He subse-quently served as an NCO in the137th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infan-try Division. Young is listed on thememorial wall of distinguishedguardsmen in Topeka, Kanasa at theNational Guard Museum.

�When he retired from the ARNG,�says Kennedy, �Young was the seniorSergeant Major of the KSARNG�.

There�s only one!Don Windley, SMA �70, has the dis-

tinction of being the only SMAgraduate to serve on honor guards forboth SMA and AMA during wreath-laying ceremonies.

Don is a member of the PalmettoSharpshooter Re-enactors and wasinvolved in ceremonies at both cam-puses in 2001 through 2003.

Jose R. Colòn, SMA �60honored in Puerto Rico

Jose R. Colòn, SMA �60 has beenawarded the Outstanding CivilianService Medal by Puerto Rico.

From 1990 through 2002, Colòn wasCivilian Aide to the Secretary of theArmy for Puerto Rico.

The citation noted that Colòn�s�commitment and dedication en-hanced the lives of our soldiers, fam-ily members and civilians.�

Colòn attended SMA from 1956 to1960. His younger brother, Wendell,graduated from SMA in 1961, and hisolder brother, Ramiro, graduated in1953.

Funds approvedfor VWIL

The Virginia General Assembly, inapproving the 2003 state budget, in-cluded funding of $43,539,854 for theTuition Assistance Grant (TAG) andthe Virginia Women�s Institute forLeadership (VWIL) tuition grant.

Early this year, these funds werein jeopardy of not being included inthe 2003 budget. SMA alumni joinedcitizens across the state in a letter ande-mail campaign to legislators askingthat the funding be continued.

According to Crista R. Cabe, Asso-ciate Vice President for College Re-lations at Mary Baldwin College, therestored funding represents $2.5 mil-lion more than Virginia GovernorWarner had proposed.

The state budget includes $546,986for restoration of the VWIL tuitiongrant, which is available to Virginiaresidents only. In addition, $99,830was restored to the budget for theUnique Military Appropriation,which covers training, equipment,uniforms and other VWIL expensesfor in-state and out-of-state students.

Campaign succeeds:

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2003 REUNION ATTENDEESATTENDEE YEAR GUEST STATE

AARON, Cyril (Butch) 1957 Patti OHBISSELL, Gen. Michael VWIL VABISSETT, George 1974 OHBISSETT, William K. 1974 OHBONFOEY, Page K. (Lolo) Mary O�Brien OHBRUCKNO, Harry W. 1962 Eileen, Liz NJBRYANT, Dr. Brenda VWIL VABURNETT, Mark B. 1953 VACARLETTI, Phil FAC VACARVER, Charles R. 1935 Rita MICRAWFORD, Claude (Chick) 1957 Carolyn Lantz VADALBO, Dominick (Jack) 1968 Rene PADAVIS, Thomas A. 1962 Connie VADEMORY, Sgt. Frank FAC Anna VADESTEFANO, Vince 1957 Dorie VADODGE, Col. Edward FAC VADRACAKIS, Emanuel 1957 Maxine OHELDER, Richard 1962 Frances MIEHMANN, Eugene 1974 NCFENDLEY, M. Lacy 1934 FLGARNER, John 1953 Martie FLGAUSS, G. Edward 1950 Betty Jean NCGRAHAM, Mrs. Charles O. FAC Jerry, Bobbie,

Linda G., Ron andBarbara VA

HANSON, Craig E. 1974 MDHENDERSON, Richard A. 1963 Carol J. VAHNILICKA, Charles R. 1948 Betty �Peg� CTHOOSER, John W. Jr. 1973 Haygan VAJENKINS, Charles R. 1953 Laura MDJONES, Robert W. 1950 Terry VAKEARNS, William (Bill) 1974 Suzanne and

Son FLKELLY, Patrick 1972 NCKEMPIN, Frederick, Jr. 1968 PAKOCH, Joseph W. 1953 CA

ATTENDEE YEAR GUEST STATE

LAY, Roy L. 1963 CALOUISELL, William C. 1946 Virginia VAMAJOR, Robert 1974 VAMAKEEVER, Harrison 1953 CAMEISE, John J., Sr. 1972 J. Meise, Jr. VAMERRITT, Albert S. 1951 Sylvia K. VAMIHALEK, Conrad 1966 OHMOORE, James I. 1948 Tinker Moore NJNEDRY, Jay 1969 VANICELY, Brocky A. 1965 Arlene VANOLDE, John A., Jr. 1963 VAPANDAK, Col. William FAC VAPAULS, Louis E., Jr. 1953 TXPHILLIPS, Thomas E.B. 1974 VASEBRELL, Ralph L. 1945 Ann W. VASMITH, Edmund A. 1976 GASMITH, Stuart P. 1948 Jean VASOTIROAOHLOS, Dimitrios 1952 Son MDSTAUNCH, Richard (Dick) 1961 NCSTEELE, Lawrence B. 1961 Nancy Lynch DESTEELE, Robert L. 1954 Darlene KYTAYLOR, Stephen L. 1963 KSTAYLOR, William H. 1956 KYTHACKER, Dorothy C. ADM VATILL, Frank R. 1961 NCTOBIN, Donald 1970 Mike Kentes VATYSON, Dr. Cynthia MBC VAVAMES, Thomas P. FAC Tessie VAWEASE, Col. Robert H. FAC VAWEBB, Wilfred, Jr. 1961 Susan VAWEITZEL, John W. 1973 Jonathan NC

FAC = Former SMA facultyADM = Former SMA administrationMBC = Mary Baldwin CollegeVWIL = Virginia Women�s Institute for Leadership

Debra (Dodge) Hutcheson, daughter of the late Col.Edward �Bebo� Dodge, recently contacted the SMAAlumni Office and The Kablegram, asking for assistancein making SMA alumni aware of the family�s plans toestablish a scholarship in Col. Dodge�s name.

According to Mrs. Hutcheson, the scholarship will beawarded to a senior graduating from the Staunton (VA)City Schools.

Alumni interested in being involved or gaining addi-tional information should contact Mrs. Hutcheson by e-mail at debrahutch@aol.com.

Dodge Scholarship plannedDavid Dickson, nephew of Fred Dickson, Jr., SMA �47,has contacted the SMA Alumni Office and asked that

his e-mail addresses....davidandpeggy@msn.com

ordaved@jmclipper.com

...be published in The Kablegram. Mr. Dickson isinterested n knowing more about his uncle, who died

in 1972. Any alumnus who can assist Mr. Dicksonshould contact him by e-mail.

Information wanted!