BREAKING NEWS - Feb 28, 2008. Steve Lorenz selected for Fourth Start, Head AETC. President George Bush has nominated Air University’s commander, Lt. Gen. Stephen Lorenz, to take the helm of Air Education and Training Command, headquartered at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. Lorenz has also been nominated for promotion to four-star general. He is poised to succeed Gen. William Looney III, who is expected to retire after a career of more than 35 years. He has held his present job since June 2005. Lorenz has headed Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., since October 2005. He was commissioned as an officer in 1973 and was trained to fly KC-135s before he moved into legislative affairs and a series of commander positions heading mobility or re-fueling wings. Lorenz has recently presided over a modernization of Air Force education that reflects the service’s increasing expeditionary role. The president also nominated Maj. Gen. Allen Peck, currently vice commander of Air University, to lead the institution. He is nominated for promotion to lieutenant general.

Class of ’73, thank you for your great inputs for this Spring edition.  Please start sending me info now for the Summer edition.  Also, if I failed to include anything you have sent in the past, please send again to jkahoe@k-hoefederal.com or joekahoe@gmail.com.  Thank you for coming to our website at http://73.texascomputerhelp.com for this expanded version of Checkpoints, which is more like a blog of inputs from our classmates.  Respectfully, Joe Kahoe, CS-07.

From: Mike & Pris Arnett arnett73@earthlink.net  Probably the best input I have is that we have found a long-lost non-graduate Niner, Jim Shumate.  Jim left the Academy at the end of our third class year as a result of being diagnosed with diabetes.  He subsequently moved back to Utah, where he became a lawyer and eventually a District Judge in St. George, Utah in 1991.  His 15 minutes of fame occurred last November 20^th, when he sentenced polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs to two consecutive terms of five-to-life.  Jim and wife Cheri have three sons, the oldest of which is a 97 grad and now a major, flying EC-130s.  

Pris and I met in November of our Doolie year and got married two days after graduation, then spent 25½ years in the Air Force.  Wasn't ready to retire, but the Air Force said, "Colonel, you've been on station two years, and it's time to move."  Pris said, "Take whatever assignment you like and come visit us whenever you like."  Or something like that.  So, I retired at the end of 1998 and went to work for L-3 Communications in Colorado Springs.  Moved to Cape Canaveral four years ago when we opened an office here.  I'm in Business Development/Marketing.  We provide system sustainment services for military systems like the Air Force Satellite Control System and the range equipment at the Eastern and Western Launch and Test Ranges off Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg AFB.  Three daughters—all grown and married.  Two in Colorado (one is taking care of our house there with her four kids & husband), one in Iowa, near her husband's father's family.

From: Jim & Cherie Shumate shumate@infowest.com  to Mike and Pris Arnett … “This was quite a day here in St. George, Utah for this old niner.  One of my clerks said there is an Ed Hageman, who wants to know if you'll talk to him and I said of course I will.  Ed saw some coverage on a case I am handling (State of Utah v. Warren Jeffs) and figured that there can't be too many James L. Shumates in the state of Utah, so he, being a crafty lawyer called the Fifth District Court and asked for me.  I've been a trial judge here in Southwestern Utah for 16&1/2 years and practiced law for 15 years before that.  I married Cherie Nelson (her picture was in the squadron sweetheart contest) in 1972.  Steve Kniffen came through Cedar City on the day I got married and we spent some time together while he was on his way to a third lieutenant assignment.  I graduated from the University of Utah, College of Law in 1975 and hung out my shingle in my hometown of Cedar City, Utah.  I was appointed as a District Judge in 1991 and moved to St. George.  We are about 115 miles northeast of Las Vegas and live in the desert.  Cherie and I have 3 sons, the oldest of which is a 1997 USAFA graduate.  It is an amazingly small world since our son, Maj. Jon Logan Shumate, works for Big Safari, and just left Waco, Texas, where he worked with L-3 in their contract to do major depot work on his aircraft, the EC-130.  Jon flies the Compass Call mission and had a number of combat missions over Afghanistan in the fall of 2001.  He and his wife have two sons and they live in Denver now.  Our next son works here in St. George for an internet service provider (my e-mail "infowest" is his company).  He and his wife are expecting our first granddaughter in February.  Our youngest is in Salt Lake City at the University of Utah, but is applying to dental schools across the country.  If he doesn't mess it up, he will marry a lovely young school teacher in June.  It is really great to get the picture of you from the Navy game.  I can't believe that my old roommates haven't changed.  If you want to see what I look like, watch CNN on November 20.  That's when I will be sentencing the head of the largest polygamous sect after his trial in September.  If you can't wait until then, just Google "Shumate" and "Jeffs" and the whole ugly mess will be there on your screen.  I've got an ugly calendar in my courtroom tomorrow, so I'll close this out.  Pass my contact info on to the rest of the bunch.  If they want to come to Utah to see the national parks, I'd love to play tour guide.  Jim

From Steve Dalrymple: As you may know, we have a daughter, Diana, who is class of 2008 and she will be graduating this May. Attached is a photo and we learned recently that she is now the Squadron Commander for Second Squadron (Deuce), which I commanded when I was a cadet....so we are very proud of her!!!  Kim and I will also be representing our class at this year’s National Character and Leadership Symposium (NCLS) being held at AFA 21-23 Feb 2008.  Our class is the flagship sponsor for this event, and we invite others to attend as well. It is a lot of fun and the speakers/cadets are great.  Thanks for asking for inputs and look forward to our reunion later this year.  I currently live in O Fallon IL and work for Booz Allen supporting the Scott AFB market.  Regards, Steve; Stephen H. Dalrymple; Senior Associate, BAH,

1728 Corporate Crossing, Suite 2, O'Fallon, IL  62269; Tel: 618-622-2335; Fax: 618-632-6605; Cell: 618-567-7838; Dalrymple_Steve@bah.com  

John Foreman reports:  Have been an admissions liaison officer (ALO) for about 20 years now (will be 20 in July). I was selected this year as the national retired ALO of the year, and will be getting that award next week at USAFA.  My son, Scott, is a class of 2000 grad -- and on 22 Dec 2007, he was deployed to Iraq for a year (Baghdad for starters).  Scott was on a career broadening/join spouse/joint assignment in LA with DCMA -- and because of various army screw ups with contracting, etc, they are taking over for the Army -- so they are starting up a new command over there supposedly -- joint contracting command -- hopefully he'll be back in one piece next Dec.  John Foreman, Chief Engineer, Air Force Programs

Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, 4500 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890; jtf@sei.cmu.edu; Office: (412) 268-6417

Mobile: (412) 874-1434; Fax:    (412) 268-5758

From: MR Hay fry747@yahoo.com; Horny 18  … I have spent hours 'visiting' with old buds (in the Checkpoints articles) and have reconnected with one already.  Very much appreciated!  Here's my news and a pic to prove to the disbelievers that I could fit into my A-jacket (a few years ago).  April and I, married 32 years, have three sons.  Steven (30) enlisted, became a "Nuke" on the USS Carl Vincent, and was quickly sent to RPI (#2 @ Prep School) for a double major in Comp. Sci. and EE.  He was 'in' but chose not to go to Canoe U.  I was privileged to swear him in as an Ensign a month before he married in SC, where he was born while I flew 141s (CHS).  See that 'free schooling is a family tradition.  Mikie (18) is a senior who is completing International Baccalaureate coursework at Mission Viejo H.S. (California).  He will enter the U.C. system and wants to be a veterinarian.  Mark (16) is a freshman at MVHS and while high functioning autistic, has an encyclopedic mind, but inherited Dad's study habits.  I may retire from NWA in the fall after flying the 727, 757 and 747.  Hobbies have changed little as the Vette I redid is REAL fast; the audio system large and home theater rocks.  Mr. Fixit is a good nomer, but I am looking at new (for profit) ventures to keep busy.   April entered the RE biz (www.socdreamhomes.com) about three years ago, working hard from the O.C. house and is doing well, becoming a partner is three years.

Mike Hay also reports:  Bob and Jan Schineller are ready to leave American Airlines for a motor home life after leaving Carol Stream, west of ORD.  Jan still works part time as a dental hygienist, is active in her church, but is looking forward to spending more time with Bob. Jocelyn is working in CO and Chris is in L.A.  Eric Vogel is getting remarried soon and works at Southwest with Horny Dennis (Goose) Geesaman and Kirk (Link) Lilly.  'Link' is a check airman and Goose's Roost B & B keeps Kathy humming. Mike Hay, Horny 18 

Bob Munson … NCLS … This year's NCLS will take place Thurs-Sat, 21-23 Feb; the theme is "Impassioned Citizenship: Can One Make a Difference?"   This theme is inspired:  most of the speakers (see atch) were picked because they've done something that's made a difference somewhere.  One typical example:  Kaziah Hancock, artist….check out this news video to get an idea of how one person can make a difference in the lives of families who have lost someone in Iraq…http://www.heropaintings.com/nbcVTS_01.wmv. 

The Center for Character Development (CCD) is asking '73, as the big class donor, to have representatives at this NCLS.  Last year 14 classmates and wives attended, helped and were very impressed with what our Class Fund bought; it was truly a class act.  In turn, the Academy and cadets were impressed by our class participation; we were the only graduate class to be widely represented.  But you don't have to volunteer to help, just attending the sessions will show the class flag…and you can tell your mates that their money has been well spent.   This year they would like us to do the same as last year:  besides attending the speaker sessions, help with registration, work the VIP lounge, lead cadet/student breakout sessions, attend the '73 talk, attend the awards dinner, get a free logo'd shirt, etc. 

From: Bruce Bennett brucebennett11@hotmail.com … Nothing much new from me. I am still at DIA but am being "promoted" (no pay increase) to the Deputy Director for Operations of the Joint Military Intelligence Training Center (JMITC). We have recently assumed responsibility for all the civilian intelligence analysts at the COCOMs and will begin delivering a new training program next month. This change has doubled our "resident" student population and we are charged with providing them the same training as we do with National Capital Region analysts. We are also heavily engaged with our friends and allies. We will be hosting a week-long analytical training workshop with the Brits, Aussies, and Canadians in May where we will be sharing and developing some common curriculum. Should be interesting.
 
I am still doing volunteer work as an Angel Flight pilot. I have flown several missions moving patients around the East Coast using my "antique" 1962 Cessna 182 (any airplane more than 40 years old is considered an antique). This has been a rewarding experience. One of my latest missions was to fly a 60+ year old cancer patient from Norfolk, VA to Baltimore, MD. He had NEVER flown before. I gave him a detailed briefing, showed him the airplane, and let him fly. He did great and really enjoyed the trip despite some bad weather! We also use the plane to travel back and forth to Norfolk, VA to visit our three grandchildren. Their dad, a Navy LT, just returned from Iraq and was awarded the Bronze Star for his efforts in countering IEDs. We took two of the grandkids with us on a long flight to Fort Worth, TX and St. Louis, MO this summer to visit their great grandparents. It was quite an adventure, but the girls are seasoned Cessna travelers and did great.  Bruce Bennett, CS-11; 141 Lorins Drive; Huntingtown, MD 20639

From Dennis Rensel … two pictures taken at the recent Scitor Holiday Party at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington DC on 5 January 2008.  We had our own ' 73 reunion of sorts.  The first picture is of the five of us: Sam Torrey, George Tota, Dennis Rensel, John Pretz, and Paul Freund.  The other four work for Scitor, I am the tagalong spouse.  In the second picture we had our wives join us: Sam and his wife Joan; George and his wife Jacquie; Dennis and his wife Kimberly; John and his wife Joanne; and Paul and his wife Jane.

From Monnie Gore … My input for Checkpoints concerns the passing of my wife, Jennifer, on November 15th. She died after battling ovarian cancer for almost 5 years. (Monnie, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family)  Also I was appointed Deputy County Administrator for El Paso County, Colorado last January and have been in the position for over a year now.

From Charles D. Stewart CS28:  I just opened another orthodontic practice in Weatherford , Texas on Santa Fe Drive this last week.  My middle son is getting maried in April.  My daughter got married last September, and my oldest son's wife is expecting in June which will be our first Grandchild.  I hope you are doing well.  See you at the Reunion.      CD

From John Wigington:  The only relevant news that I have is that I was able to attend the October retirement ceremony for Lt Col Kim Nelson, the wife of our classmate, Sherm Nelson.  They live in Tullahoma TN where Kim was assigned to Arnold Engineering and Development Center.  Sherm commutes to work daily to Huntsville AL.   They plan to stay in TN at least until this summer.  Hopefully, you have heard that from Sherm, just in case. Regards, John Wigington