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Gone, but not forgotten:  John Manning Garrard, age 56, of 252 Winding Trail Dr., died Wednesday, April 09, 2008 at his home. John was son of the late Walter Edward Garrard, Sr. A 1973 graduate of the Air Force Academy, John was retired from the Air Force with 20 years service. He was presently employed with ATA as a commercial pilot. John attended Long Memorial United Methodist Church where he sang in the choir and was very active with the Long Memorial United Methodist Boy Scout Troop 249.  Our heartfelt sympathies and prayers are with John, Ann, and all the family.  http://www.brooksandwhite.com/obituaryView.php?obitId=126

An excerpt from an email from Tom and Betty Kennedy and Bud Gammon to the Grim Reapers about John Garrard’s funeral:  Bud, Betty and I were able to represent the squadron at John’s funeral and the burial.  The church was lovely, and they had John’s choir robe draped over the railing behind the organist.  The service was a real tribute to the man we all knew, especially 2 poems written by his children, Elizabeth and young John. The burial was at an old, historic church with many Confederate tombs as well as Garrard family members; the honor guard from Seymour-Johnson did a great job.  I can’t seem to view the photo of the flowers that Boehm forwarded (my Outlook blocked it), but we saw them at the gravesite; Bud got several pictures which he can download when he returns to Rome.  The family invited us to John and Ann’s home following the services; an invitation we gratefully accepted.  It was great to visit with his mom, in-laws and large family (3 sisters, a brother and lots of nieces and nephews).  Bud, Betty and Tom

Friday, May 2^nd, Buddy Gammon qualified for the US Congress at the State Capital Building in Atlanta, GA. Buddy will be running in the 11th District of Georgia. The same District he received his Congressional nomination to USAFA. Visit his website at Budgammon.com

Tom Butler --- My son, Brian, graduated from SUPT at Del Rio on Jan 18^th and is training in the C-17 at Altus AFB, OK.  Assigned to Charleston AFB, SC after training.  I'm pretty proud of him.  I'm also forwarding an old photo of Brian in a blue flight suit I bought him on a trip to Korea when he was age six, and another of Brian's wife, Wanda, pinning on his wings on graduation day.  As a side note, I have been working at Atlas Air for nearly 15 years, and I am a Check Airman on the 747-400.  Guys may want to know we are currently hiring pilots, and anyone interested can contact me at this email address, or call my cell phone at 240-731-3859. 

Brian Gammon	Brian and Tom	Brian and Wanda

Bill Heely, a '73 CS-38 All-Star.  I am working as a "Threat Planner" in the Forces Branch at the Joint Warfighting Center (part of Joint Forces Command) in Suffolk, VA.  I help plan and execute computer assisted exercises for the Partnership for Peace program and NORAD/NORTHCOM exercises.  I enlisted my younger son, Jim, into the U.S. Marines on 22 April at Ft Lee, VA.  One of the attached pictures (below) is of my wife, Ann, Jim, me, my daughter Sarah, and her husband, Matt Payne (both '04 VA Tech grads who live in Richmond) after the swearing in.  The other is of Jim and me right after I swore him in. Jim's the "in-shape" one on the right.  He is currently enjoying an all-expense paid vacation in sunny Parris Island, SC. I've lived in Yorktown for the past 9 years.  My older son, Dan, is an AF Capt (VA Tech - '01), B-1 WSO, and currently on an ALO tour with 3rd Brigade, 25th ID at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii.  He and his wife, Casie, have 3 daughters--4 years, 2 years, and 2 months old.  My younger daughter, Kate, and her husband, Will Collins (both VA Tech '06 grads) live in Christiansburg near VA Tech where Will is getting his MS in engineering.  Ann and I are in the first days of the empty nest.  She's teaching 7th and 8th grade English, Intro to Latin, and Bible at Hampton Christian Schools.  Charlie Childress (32nd Sq) also works at the JWFC as an "OPFOR Air Planner".  He was recently the OPFOR Air Commander in a major PACOM exercise and is currently in Kaiserslautern for Austere Challenge 08 a major EUCOM exercise.  --Bill Heely 

Ann Heely, Jim, Bill Heely, daughter Sarah, and her husband, Matt Payne (both '04 VA Tech grads who live in Richmond) after the swearing in.

Bill Heely and Son Jim

Dave Hannan, CS-25:  In mid-April, I was elected President-Elect of the Medical Society of the State of New York.  Pam and I are looking forward to attending the class re-union and visiting our son, Matt, USAFA '09. 

Kent Magnusson:  This is a picture of my son Mike, his wife Vanessa, my wife Sara and me at Mike’s OCS graduation into the Coast Guard. He is now in pilot training in Pensacola.  We live in San Antonio, TX.  The badge is a BSC (Biomedical Science Corp) badge.  I was an Aerospace Physiologist for 30 years.  We also have three daughters, who are married, and three grandchildren and all of them are beautiful - thanks to my wife.   

Mike, Vanessa, Sara and Kent Magnusson at OCS Graduation

Don Rightmyer (drightmyer@yahoo.com)  I took a new job in April 2007 as Reference Librarian and staff genealogy researcher for the Kentucky Historical Society Research Library in downtown Frankfort, KY.  I continued in that position for a year but in January I was asked to take on the challenge of editing and getting published the next issue of the Society's quarterly Kentucky family history and genealogy publication, Kentucky Ancestors. The previous editor had departed the job last October and the magazine was nearly a year behind.  Having two different monthly editorial jobs during my USAF career (four years editing TAC Attack in Tactical Air Command and two years editing AirScoop over in USAFE), I was excited to be asked to do this.  I also knew this was a "trial run" to see if I could do it and what the publication would look like. The "next issue" hit the streets on 31 March (which was when I'd promised them it would be ready).  Last week I was made the official fulltime editor of Kentucky Ancestors and I'm now transitioning from my library work into the fulltime challenge of editing the magazine but also getting it back on track -- quarterly publishing schedule (Jan/Apr/Jul/Oct). Taking on an "every two months" issue and hope to have the magazine back in "OR status" by next summer.  Anyone interested in seeing the publication, send me an email with your mailing address.  Best wishes to all of '73 wherever you are right now. Don Rightmyer; Editor, Kentucky Ancestors; Kentucky Historical Society; 100 W. Broadway; Frankfort, Kentucky 40601-1931; Email: don.rightmyer@ky.gov; Phone: (502) 564-1792 X4435/4421Our KHS website is: history.ky.gov and there's a special page for the publication I've taken over:  http://www.history.ky.gov/sub.php?pageid=39&sectionid=3

Tim Long:  My daughter, Nicole, graduated from NYU 11 & 14 May (1st one is her school and the 2nd is the university (which was held at Yankee Stadium) after only 3 years with a degree in psychology.  She's graduating summa cum laude, and has been invited to join Phi Beta Kappa.  She started work at Brown University in Providence immediately after graduation as a research assistant for a start-up psychology lab there.  Here's a picture of the two of us at Thanksgiving brunch in New York City:

Al Kinback:  On Mar 13th, LightHawk volunteer pilot Alan Kinback helped several south FL groups, led by the South Atlantic Regional Office of The Ocean Conservancy, launch a pilot program to protect lives of countless marine animals from an offshore menace.  Way to go, Al. See the full story at www.lighthawk.org.

Congrats to Steve Lorenz!!!   New AETC Commander Approved: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Lt. Gen. Stephen R. Lorenz for promotion to the grade of general to take command of Air Education and Training Command at Randolph AFB, Tex. Lorenz, currently head of Air University at Maxwell AFB, Ala., will succeed Gen. William R. Looney, who is retiring after 36 years of service, including leading AETC since June 2005.

General Norty Schwartz testifies in front of Congress:  “A fleet of 205 C-17s and 111 modernized C-5s appears to be the right mix of strategic airlift, even with the growth of the Army and Marine Corps and factoring in recent changes to the Pentagon's upgrade plans for the C-5, Air Force Gen. Norton Schwartz, commander of US Transportation Command, told the Senate Armed Services seapower subcommittee March 12.”

Randy Fotinakes:  The attached picture was taken of CS-34 at the 30th reunion.   

Left to Right, Front Row;  Gerry Cook, Ron Taylor; Middle Row; Randy Fotinakes, Mike Mosier, Norty Schwartz, John Rabins, Skip Sanders; Back Row; Bob Munson, Dick Halfast, Bill Rothwell, Carl Foerster, Jim Western, Bob Frohlich, Ron Scott, Mike Farrell.  We had 16 of our 22 graduates at the 30th.  Carl Dofelmier also made the reunion, but wasn't in this photo at Bob Munson's home.  Here he is at the dinner with his wife and Ron Taylor.

Carl Dofelmier with his wife and Ron Taylor.

Bob Hooten:  I have maintained contact with Denny Haugh, who has been a real good point of contact for 13th squadron.  I won't make the reunion as I am working with the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in Egypt.  I have to schedule my vacation around my wife's (Jan) vacation.  I am Chief; Information, Communication, and Technology for the MFO.  I work out of the North Camp in the northern part of the Sinai.  It's a good job.  I am in charge of all communications including PCs, radios, TV, communications towers, flight following repeaters, the radio station, cellular phones, servers, and all future requirements for communications for the soldiers in the MFO (eleven different countries).  I manage a force of multinational soldiers and local Egyptian employees.  The tax free income is very appealing! I retired as an 0-6 in '98 and spent most of my retirement years working for AT&T as a Senior Project Manager prior to accepting my current position.  I have included a photo of Jan and me visiting the sites in Cairo.  My job is an accompanied position, but Jan is staying in the US due to proximity to our children and our grandchildren. My current address is: Robert Hooten, MFO-Sinai, Unit 31520, APO AE, 09832.  However, my home address remains 4 North Country Club Rd, Decatur, IL, 62521.

Dan O'Hollaren, Brig Gen, ORANG, Commander:  Passing along a photo of John Corley, Mike Edwards & myself at an ACC / ANG Adjutant's General Conference held at Langley AFB Feb 20-21.  As you can see, none of us has changed a bit from our cadet days! John is COMACC and Mike is the Adjutant General for Colorado.  

Dan O'Hollaren, John Corley and Mike Edwards

Rick Karvosky:  Good timing! I left the job in Las Vegas to return to my old company - they gave me an offer I could not refuse! Of course, I'm in Iraq now as the Engineering Manager at Camp Taji. It's NW of Baghdad. I got here last week. Been here before - back in 2006 so I knew what I was getting into. I'll send a few pictures - this time I promise! I rented out the house in Vegas and put all, including my 50th Anniversary Corvette, into storage. Not sure how long I'll be here - there is a reorg going on back in Panama City Office and I'm waiting to see what opens - may be offered position back in Home Office.  I'm back out here to "earn my rights" back into the family - kinda their way of saying you shouldn't have left! It's okay - I don't mind it here and like I said - the money is more than twice what I was making in Vegas!!!!! Not sure if I'll be back in the States for the Reunion - if I am, I'll be there! 

Denny Boyce:  My wife, Debi, and I are sleeping better now that our two sons are back in the good old US of A.  Our older son served in Iraq as an infantry platoon leader (2 Bronze Stars-one for valor) and is now in med school at Chapel Hill.  Our younger son was in Iraq as a Blackhawk crewchief with the NC Guard and then spent all last year in Iraq again as a contract mechanic.  He surprised as by showing up at home on Christmas Eve (great present!).  He's now in Alaska on another defense contract.  See you at our reunion.  2^nd Note from Denny:  I'm on a long overnight in a hotel with good internet service so I thought I'd send along some fodder for our class column.  I had dinner with Steve Fenton last fall in Las Vegas.  He's a retired O-6 and flies 737's for a defense contractor there (enough said about that).  He and Terry have two sons that are both in the AF.  Jack Hudson is a Lt Gen commanding Wright-Patterson.  He and Marsha love it there since all three of their sons live in Ohio.  He had hip replacement surgery late last year (too much running) and was doing well last time I talked to him.  Saw Dave Stonehouse at the AF bowl game in Ft. Worth.  He's a check airman for American Airlines.  Gary Wigle is an engineer with Boeing in Seattle.  I'm still flying A-320's for US Airways in Charlotte, NC and see Don McMillan, Dave Mullens, Steve Seville and John Harr in the crew room now and then.

Rowe Stayton (March 31^st):  I will send some pics when I get to my base and we get stabilized. We are moving up to Baghdad this Saturday. We will move to a tent of sorts for a few weeks (we are in a tent here-75 of us-have had a cot to live from for almost three weeks now), then to a more permanent building. Our mission is threefold: force protection (guard towers and traffic control points-ugh), QRF (quick reaction force), and patrolling a sector. I have eight guys, a couple of them still teenagers. I am pleased with the way they are coming together to perform the tasks.  I will stay in touch.

More Rowe ….  You will want to read this 2004 article

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/07/international/middleeast/07sarge.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Rowe Stayton deployed again to Iraq on April 5th, 2008 for another tour over there as an Army National Guard combat infantry NCO.  Rowe in email to Dave Ellis:  We head up the road next Saturday (actually flying on C-130's) and fall in on some new humvees -1151's when we arrive. We have a mixture of a mission: force protection, QRF, and patrolling AO Mutt.  Should help the time go by.  My guys are well trained and I have 3 vets in my squad.  Stay in touch and I will pass on any needs. Right now since we are so new, I don't see much of anything we need, but I am sure that will change. I know we can always, always use baby wipes.  Other than that, I would not have a clue now, but will stay in touch.  Thanks for your thoughts. I will provide sitreps as they apply. Take care. Rowe

Dave Ellis:  After 34 years of military flying, I retired from the ART program and my wife Sheryl choreographed a family move from FL to 5 miles east of Monument, CO.  The guidon is passed to the next generation -- son Scott (USAFA 2011) and son Brent flying Vipers at Kunsan AB Korea (CWU AFROTC) (Central Washington University).  The attached photos show who is who.  Our youngest guy Brad (11) wants to follow in his brothers' footsteps.  We hope he does.