Neale, David A.

Pitman, Thomas J.

Deets, Clifford L.

Second Regiment

Newton III, William H.

Fourth Battalion

Salewske, Michael R.

Donovan, John E.

O'Neil, Edward J.

23

Schram, Robert T.

Ehemann, David A.

O'Neill Jr., Charles J.

Not Pictured

Seltmann, Kenneth 

Goodmundson, Gary C.

Barrett III, Frank O.

Stieglitz, William H.

Higgins Jr., Simeon G.

Alfieri, Paul A.

Jenkins, Gerald W.

     Company

Hurley, James C.

Jensen Jr., Franklin J.

rd

Maier Jr., John A.

Langston Jr., Edward R.

23

Mathis, Barry J.

Riesch, Dexter W.

Rivenbark, Charles R.

Moore, Robert D.

Tinsley, Steven G.

Ayers, Douglas P.

Williams, Harold A.

Rogers, James E.

Moore, Terry A.

Carrier II, John X.

Moore, Wayne T.

Connors, Kevin P.

Caption Left for Photo Right

Date of Death: Month 00, 2055

Paul Allen Alfieri

1970

Caption Right for Photo Left

Caption Right

Cras justo odio, dapibus ac facilisis in, egestas eget quam. Maecenas faucibus mollis interdum. Donec ullamcorper nulla non metus auctor fringilla. Donec id elit non mi porta gravida at eget metus. Donec ullamcorper nulla non metus auctor fringilla. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Nullam quis risus eget urna mollis ornare vel eu leo. Donec sed odio dui. Sed posuere consectetur est at lobortis. Praesent commodo cursus magna, vel scelerisque nisl consectetur et. Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros. Fusce dapibus, tellus ac cursus commodo, tortor mauris condimentum nibh, ut fermentum massa justo sit amet risus. Donec ullamcorper nulla non metus auctor fringilla. Donec ullamcorper nulla non metus auctor fringilla. Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros. Praesent commodo cursus magna, vel scelerisque nisl consectetur et. Duis mollis, est non commodo luctus, nisi erat porttitor ligula, eget lacinia odio sem nec elit. Cras justo odio, dapibus ac facilisis in, egestas eget quam. Vivamus sagittis lacus vel augue laoreet rutrum faucibus dolor auctor.  nisi erat porttitor ligula, eget lacinia odio sem nec elit.

Caption Left

Perry Dunn’s family

Curabitur blandit tempus porttitor. Aenean eu leo quam. Pellentesque ornare sem lacinia quam venenatis vestibulum. Cras mattis consectetur purus sit amet fermentum. Etiam porta sem malesuada magna mollis euismod. Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros. Vivamus sagittis lacus vel augue laoreet rutrum faucibus dolor auctor. Curabitur blandit tempus porttitor. Curabitur blandit tempus porttitor. Aenean eu leo quam. Pellentesque ornare sem lacinia quam venenatis vestibulum. Cras mattis consectetur purus sit amet fermentum. Etiam porta sem malesuada magna mollis euismod. Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros. Vivamus sagittis lacus vel augue laoreet rutrum faucibus dolor auctor. Curabitur blandit tempus porttitor. Curabitur blandit tempus porttitor. Aenean eu leo quam. Pellentesque ornare sem lacinia quam venenatis vestibulum. Cras mattis consectetur purus sit amet fermentum. Etiam porta sem malesuada magna mollis euismod. Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros. Vivamus sagittis lacus vel augue laoreet rutrum faucibus dolor auctor. Curabitur blandit tempus porttitor.

William Henry Stieglitz

Kenneth William Seltmann

Robert Thomas Schram

It was the hottest day of my life. We were in T-Court. The light was blinding from the white uniforms. I was sweating uncontrollably.  I was miserable and doubting myself. I remember only 3 things from induction day.  Someone said “look to your left, look to your right. One of you will not be here in 4 years.” Correct! Another said, “you can do anything you think you can do and don’t you ever forget it!” Yep! I remember taking the oath of office. And, Navy life started for Tom Schram. USNA was a struggle. I was always behind the curve on academics and adjusting to a regimented life. However, I graduated. Spent 8 years active. Why USNA? I grew up on an Indiana farm. My father was a retired CDR from WW II. I earned my congressman’s #1 spot of qualified applicants for USNA and at age 17, accepted.  USNA’s most important lesson was never quit!. Failure is not an option. I carried that with me always. Still do. Taught it to my family and those around me.

The most life changing event during USNA was first class cruise on the USS Randolph (CVS-15). Cruise was three 2-week periods in operations, weapons, and engineering. I knew I would be NPQ at service selection because of a severe back injury second class year. Thus, I hoped to find a restricted line specialty for my career during cruise. My first assignment was Aviation Intelligence. I took to intelligence like a fish to water. My division officer agreed. He enabled me to stay in intelligence all six weeks. Later, he mentored me into an intelligence commission with the Naval Security Group.  The funniest USNA incident occurred when my roommate slept in one day. There was an ominous double-tap on the door. In walked a USMC Major. Made me wake up my roommate, Steve Tinsley. The Major told me to turn on the shower and ordered Steve into the shower, to march around, and sing Semper Fidelis. Steve got in the shower but said he didn’t know the words. The major glared and opined that I better know them and tell the words to Steve, so he could sing and march in the shower. I knew the words. Steve marched and sang. The Major departed. No FRAP! Our Band of Brothers. Those in the 23rd Company faced rough times together. First Class year was the worst. However, we made it. We supported each other. And, we still do, 54 years later. They are my brothers and will be until I die.

Michael Russell Salewske

James Edwin Rogers

Second Lieutenant Charles R. Rivenbark  1 September 1970 (commissioning)

The most memorable moment from my time at the Naval Academy was 30 June 1965 when the entire Plebe class gathered in Tecumseh court and were administered the Oath of Office. I SOLEMNLY SWEAR (OR AFFIRM) THAT I WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC; THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME; THAT I TAKE THIS OBLIGATION FREELY, WITHOUT ANY MENTAL RESERVATION OR PURPOSE OF EVASION; AND THAT I WILL WELL AND FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE ON WHICH I AM ABOUT TO ENTER, SO HELP ME GOD. For the next 3 decades, I repeated this oath (or the enlisted equivalent) each time I was promoted, and at each promotion ceremony at which I presided, (to include the commissioning of my son).   It filled my chest with pride, and hope for the future of our Corps, our country, and for human kind.

Charles Rea Rivenbark

Dexter William Riesch

Thomas James Pitman

Charles James O'Neill Jr.

Edward Joseph O'Neil

William Henry Newton III

(Bill)

Three eighteen-year-olds left Midland, Texas headed for Annapolis. Ron Tefteller, Richard Puckett, and I arrived in Crab Town, spending the night before induction with Mike Lettieri from Long Island. What a conversation that was! We all spoke English, but ... I would like to say, I came to serve my country. But that would be a lie. I came to get a good education and play football!  I left proud that God had given me the opportunity to serve my country and let me live through it.  I went in love with my high school sweetheart. I married that sweetheart one week after graduation. I am still in love with her today. Most of you who know me, also know Linda! My career started as a football coach learning from two masters, Dick Duden and Frank Gansz, both Academy grads.  What a ball we had enjoying an undefeated season and the Academy from outside Bancroft Hall! Leaman, Lettieri, Clark, Jones, Butler, Butrill, Potter, Laforce, and I made a good coaching team!

Bill Newton in 1972 in Kitty Hawk’s ready room preparing for a combat flight

David Alfred Neale

Wayne Thomas Moore

Terry Allen Moore

Robert David Moore

Date of Death: January 28, 2017

Robert “Bob-o” Moore, a 1969 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, passed away 28 January 2017, in Pago Pago, American Samoa. Hailing from Arbutus, Maryland, Bob returned to the Naval Academy by way of Western Maryland College.  The son of a WWII Navy Chaplain, he had come full circle, being the 1001st baby born at the Naval Academy Hospital. He was a member of the infamous 23rd Company’s black N club.  Larger than life, Bob was a laid back character well liked by all who knew him and smart enough to challenge the Academic Department by working “steam” and other complex math and computer problems in his head.   Something of a free spirit, he was also well known to the Executive Department who deemed it necessary to give him his own special solitary graduation ceremony.  He was an avid member of the Sailing Squadron and was on the Lucky Bag staff.  Weekends would find him and other 23rd Company classmates enjoying his family’s summer retreat on the shores of the Magothy River. After graduation he was assigned to U.S.S. Chevalier (DD-805), then served on the DESRON 23 staff and at the Fleet Combat Direction Systems Training Center, Pacific, in San Diego.  During this period Bob earned a master’s degree from USC.

Eventually the urge to spend more time sailing caught up with him and in 1978 he and a 23rd Company classmate set off to sail the South Pacific Ocean in a twenty-nine foot sloop rigged sailboat.  Stops along the way included numerous islands in French Polynesia (Tahiti, Bora Bora, etc.), Rarotonga, American and Western Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, New Zealand, eight months on the Coral Coast of Australia, Bali, Indonesia and finally Singapore where financial constraints caused the sale of the boat and his return to the States in 1980. Bob went to work for a subsidiary of Braun Engineering in Duarte, CA, designing refineries and immediately began saving money for his next sailboat and trip to the South Pacific.  Setting out in the late 1980’s, he again found himself in Pago Pago.   The attractiveness of high ground during hurricane season was too good to pass up.  He took an instructor position teaching computer programs with the Interior Department’s College of American Samoa and has been there for the past twenty-nine years, recently retiring. Bob is survived by his adopted children, daughter Heta and son Robert James, and by his eight brothers and sisters.  Fair winds and following seas good friend, father, and brother.

Barry James Mathis

USS Midway

Date of Death: January 01, 1991

Barry J. Mathis died January 1, 1991 in an unfortunate skiing accident in Salt Lake City, Utah. Barry was born and reared in Palo Alto, CA.  At the time of his death, Barry was branch dental clinic director at Whiting Field Naval Air Station in Milton, FL.  Whiting is the busiest U.S. Naval Air station in the world, and its health clinic employs 69 staff.  In his honor, the clinic is now named the “Barry J. Mathis Building”. He previously served in the Navy aboard the USS Midway, USS Lexington, and in Yokosuka, Japan.  He received numerous decorations and awards from the Navy during his 21-year career.  A giving person, every Summer he volunteered his time at a cerebral palsy camp.  Dr. Mathis was survived by his wife, Sharon J. Mathis, a son, Jay, a daughter, Chelline, his parents, Ben and Pat Mathis, and his sister, Sharon Gerpheide. 

USS Lexington

John Adam Maier Jr.

Edward Ray Langston Jr.

Franklin Jesse Jensen Jr.

Gerald William Jenkins

Date of Death: March 16, 1981

USS America (CV-66)

CDR Gerald William Jenkins USN was killed in an accident aboard the aircraft carrier USS America (CV-66) on 16 March 1981. Memorial services were held at the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery at Point Loma in San Diego after services at the naval chapel, Naval Air Station, North Island. Appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy from the State of Michigan, he graduated with the Class of 1969.  Flight training followed and he was designated a naval aviator in 1971. He also completed work for a Master of Science degree in Aeronautical Systems at the University of West Florida at this time, and then reported as a flight instructor at Corpus Christi in 1973.   CDR Jenkins later had duty with Antisubmarine Squadron 41 at North Island, flying as a fleet replacement pilot in the first of the S-3A Vikings.

Other service included assignments to Antisubmarine Squadron 21 during which he deployed on board USS John F. Kennedy, followed by duty as aide to Commander Naval Air Test Center, Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, Maryland. He also had a tour at the Naval War College, and he reported to Antisubmarine Squadron 33 in March 1980. He was survived by his widow, Elizabeth of Coronado, California; a daughter, his parents; a sister and two brothers.

James Christopher Hurley

My father and his younger brother joined the Navy in August of 1929.  While my uncle chose not to re-up, my dad stayed in for 30 years, retiring in 1959 after having served in every pay grade from seaman recruit through commander, with the single exception of CPO.   My mother was a Navy nurse.  They met and married in 1945 at the Great Lakes Naval Station.  With that background and growing up in the Navy, I knew I wanted to be part of the Navy.   Many of us will remember the short-lived TV series, Men of Annapolis that aired in ’58 and ’59.  Watching that show convinced me that I wanted to go to the Academy, and I was lucky enough to actually get an appointment, joining that mighty fine Class of ’69. Following graduation, I reported to Columbia University for a year – showing up the day after the NROTC office was fire bombed by anti-war activists.  My year there was “interesting.”  The quality of instruction was awful.  Our faculty at Navy was far better.  In spite of that, I did come away with an MS in aero and orders to flight school. I earned my wings in March of 1971 and reported to VP-1 in Hawaii.  I fleeted up to TACCO and flew on Crew 10 with two men who have been my close friends ever since – in fact, the three of us served together, or at co-located commands, four times over the next 25 years

Simeon Guy Higgins Jr.

Guy Higgins and Mary Therese Mikus (now Higgins) December 1970

(Gary, Goody)

After graduation the Navy sent me to Key West for fleet sonar school and then Norfolk for nuclear ASROC school. I ended up in Newport, RI for a couple of cruises on the USS Newman K. Perry (DD-883). Orders to Riverine Advisor to the South Vietnam Navy were cancelled and that led to destroyer school back in Newport along with many classmates.  We had a great time partying and many of us met our wives in Newport, including myself.   I became the first Ops Boss on the USS Jesse L. Brown (FF-1089).   Jan and I were married in Newport in 1973 and then sent to Charleston, SC for new home port for the Jesse L. Brown. Our first son, David (1974), was born there. We then went to Monterey for two years of post grad school.  We thoroughly enjoyed our time there with many navy friends and lots of camping in the beautiful parks and campgrounds all over northern California. Our daughter, Megan (1976), was born there as well. Upon graduating with my Master's degree in Ops Research in March 1977 I went to Idaho Falls for non-nuclear steam engineer training with eventual orders to Norfolk as the CHENG on the USS Charleston (LKA-113). 

We were excited about moving to Norfolk as many dear friends were already there including Joe Greene who had married one of Jan's dear friends from Newport, Sue.  After two years on the Charleston I did weekly commutes as I served out a tour in Washington, DC at the CNA. I worked on the Blue Arrow study that resulted in SSN-688I class with bow mounted Tomahawk tubes and a helicopter ASW project advocating carrier-based Seahawks with dipping sonar.
 In 1981, back in Norfolk, I took another sea tour as Assistant Engineer on the USS Nassau (LHA-4) followed by an Executive Officer tour on the USS Savannah (DOR-4). In 1985 I returned to the Nassau as CHENG.  During this same time period, Jan and I bought a small hobby farm in Chesapeake, where I still reside 34 years later. Shortly after our move, our third child, Alex (1985) was born.  We enjoyed many animals over the years. Lots of dogs and cats. A few horses and ponies with a few horse shows now and then for my daughter, Megan.
 After several tours on amphibious ships, I had roots firmly planted in the amphib community. I took orders as CSO for Naval Beach Group Two in Little Creek (Norfolk) where I got to play with amphibious tinker toys off-loading MPS ships. I moved on to take command of Assault
Craft Unit Two, more sea duty and an O6 billet.

Gary Carl Goodmundson

David Arthur Ehemann

John Edwin Donovan

Clifford Lee Deets

Kevin Patrick Connors

Kevin Connors and USNA classmates on a ski trip, 1970. Standing L to R: Bill McCauley, Bert Conlon, Mark Warner, Bob Frangione. Hunched is Kevin Connors

Date of Death: September 11, 2001

John Xavier Carrier II

Frank Oliver Barrett III

Douglas Pierce Ayers

Steven Garland Tinsley

Harold Aldrich Williams

Date of Death: September 11, 2001

Kevin Patrick Connors was born in Boston and grew up in Quincy, Mass. He graduated from Boston College High School and won an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, where he was a well-liked member of 23rd Company. He was commissioned an Ensign upon graduation.  Kevin reported to NAS Pensacola for primary flight training.  To some, Kevin appeared less than enthusiastic about the Navy.  With the war in Vietnam winding down, flight classes were delayed due to a surplus of students and a declining number of fleet “seats.”   This resulted in excess free time to stray from the straight and narrow.  Given this situation, and Kevin’s free spirit, he, like many young officers, was offered an exit from the program and the Navy.  Kevin jumped at the opportunity and, having been accepted to graduate school at Dartmouth, eagerly made the transition.   Receiving his MBA, Kevin took his talents to Wall Street, specifically as a trader in the US Treasury Securities market where he made a name for himself as an astute and intelligent player.  Lured by the excitement of New York and the securities industry a few classmates whose relationship had become closer over the years joined Kevin in New York, employed by similar firms, becoming part of a small USNA network.

After receiving his MBA, Kevin was initially worked for J.P. Morgan Bank.  He subsequently took a job as a managing director at Morgan Stanley, where he established the government bond department.  Kevin later founded and then sold Connors and Cook, an investment firm. For a time he operated Kevin Connors and Company near his home in Miami. He returned to New York and for the last three years held senior management positions at Euro Brokers Inc.  An avid sailor, Kevin, his brother Chris, and two friends survived the sinking of his 66-foot motor yacht “Firebird” off the coast of South America in 1975.  After two days in a life raft, the crew was rescued by a cargo ship. Following this adventure, Kevin canceled plans to travel around the world and returned to Wall Street.   He enjoyed organizing regular family gatherings full of activities. In July, 2001 for example, he completed a 550-mile bike ride across Iowa and the Midwest. Kevin continued finding varying levels of success in the markets but most of all, he enjoyed being his own boss.

Then on the morning of Sept 11, 2001 Kevin was at work buying and selling U.S. Treasury securities as a senior vice president of Euro Brokers Inc., a brokerage firm with offices high up in the World Trade Center.   Kevin died in the World Trade Center that day as a result of those terrorist attacks.   He was among the many whose bodies were never found.

Kevin Connors' son,  Shane, age about 4  in 1985 

Surviving are his wife, Sylvia Loria Connors; two sons, Shane and Terence; three stepchildren, Karim, Davina and Daniella, all of Greenwich; a sister, Sheila Connors LeDuc of Lexington, Mass.; four brothers, Christopher of New York City and York, Maine; William of Hull, Mass.; Douglas of Quincy, and Russell of Kittery Point, Maine. A memorial Mass was celebrated at St. Michael's Church, in Greenwich, Connecticut and attended by a number of Kevin’s company mates from the 23rd company.

Kevin Connors on the bow  of his steel motor yacht, “Firebird”,   built by Burger

Parkinson's was slowly taking over my ability to drive for long periods of time and forced me into my second retirement in 2009. This allowed me to spend even more time around my yard and home doing landscape and gardening projects.   I was also a caregiver to my wife, Jan, who was experiencing progression in her respiratory illness. I dedicated myself to staying as physically active as possible to stave off the progression of my own disease.  In 2011 I underwent surgery to receive an implanted device in my brain called a deep brain stimulator
(DBS).  This device has worked miracles for me and allowed me to be fortunate enough to have a slower progression of the movement disorder. 

In 2015, my wife Jan passed away from complications related to COPD. The outpouring of love and support from friends and family carried me through this difficult time and renewed my sense of gratitude for being part of the brotherhood of USNA ’69. These days I'm still fighting back against my PD including a therapeutic boxing program called Rock Steady Boxing.  The highlight of my days are when I can attend a social gathering with classmates or watch a Navy football game at Shorebreak Pizza.

In 1990 Desert Shield/Desert Storm took ACU-2 to Kuwait. Another highlight from this tour was as Acting Naval Component Commander for exercise JLOTS '93. In August 1993 I gave up command of ACU-2 and found myself as part of
the ill-fated Haiti Assistance Group. I wound up my 25-year naval career at CINCLANT fleet Crisis Action Team as the Haiti Action Officer.

 I retired in June 1994 and started a second career as a short-line railroader. This was a lifelong dream of mine after growing up around railroaders in Minnesota, including my dad. I worked for the Chesapeake & Albemarle railroad which ran from Edenton, NC to Norfolk, VA. I also worked for the NCVA railroad out of Ahoskie, NC.  In 1997 I began noticing a hand tremor and knew what it was. In 1998 I was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and fortunately was able to keep working and life as normal for many years.   In 2004 after his high school graduation, my son Alex came to work with me at NCVA railroad and we enjoyed two and half years as co-workers together. He moved on to a bigger railroad and has climbed the railroad ladder, currently a yardmaster for CSX in Richmond.

Traveling to Minnesota and a few other destinations keeps me motivated to stay physically active.  I get to enjoy about every other weekend with my two grandchildren, Jacob (5) and Freya (2). 

Gary Goodmundson and his grandchildren  Jacob and Freya

Our adventures often wind up with us gawking at trains or Navy ships.

 My advice to today's grads: stay in the USN as long as you possibly can.

 USS Savannah (DOR-4)

Gary Goodmundson in Dec 2018

Gary & Jan Goodmundson

Following VP-1, I had tours at the Naval Air Test Center, a disassociated sea tour, and with VP-23 in Brunswick, ME.  Following my tour in VP-23, I transitioned to the Aerospace Duty community and spent six tours in the DC area, including two tours as a major program PM.   My tours in DC were enormously satisfying, and I like to think that I actually contributed to the Navy and the United States.  I also had the opportunity to work with some truly impressive individuals from RADM Steve Hostettler (Director of the Tomahawk program and possibly the hardest boss I ever had), the Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology (Mr. Inside to the Under Secretary’s Mr. Outside) and several (equally impressive) classmates, including Paul Alfieri and Mike Michaelis. My tours in DC also allowed my family (Mary Therese and three children – Tanya, Stephanie and Joshua) to establish a stable life.  The kids were all able to graduate high school without the disruptions forced by a three- year PCS cycle.   Over the years, I accumulated a number of “vices” including running (I’ve run six marathons – my fastest was three hours and twenty four minutes.   After retiring from the Navy, I took a job with Boeing and worked there for twelve years.  

While they pay better, the Navy was way more organized and better led.  I also found that Navy leadership is much more open to pushback and unconventional thinking than industry, but that’s an entirely different story.  Since leaving Boeing, I’ve tried my hand at running a small business (thank heaven for retirement pay) and am now pretty much retired full time.  I’ve become involved in the USNA Alumni Association Colorado Chapter, the Navy League and the USNA Parents’ Club.  I thoroughly enjoy knowing the young men and women who are now Mids and will be the leaders of the Navy and Marine Corps. As we approach our fiftieth graduation anniversary, and my wife, Mary Therese, and I approach our fiftieth wedding anniversary, I think that my marriage to this wonderful woman is the most important thing in my life.  Our three children, have presented us with eight grandchildren.We moved to Colorado in 2011 (after I retired from Boeing), and I’m working on being a full time ski bum (one of those vices I mentioned).  I’m not a terribly accomplished skier, but I enjoy it.  My plebe year roommate, Bill Stieglitz, and I get together for a day or two of skiing every year.  I also get together with my daughters and their families for an annual week of skiing – while I haven’t spent much time talking about them, my family is the very best part of my life, and I am enormously proud of them.  

Higgins retirement December 1998.  From back left Joshua, Guy, Mary Therese.  Front from left Stephanie and Tanya

Guy Higgins family (2013): Back row from left: Tanya and Darrell (holding Nora) and Luke Chronik.  Gabriel, Noah Stephanie (holding Jack) and Bill Summers Front row from left: Joshua Higgins, Kayleigh Summers, Mary Therese and Guy Higgins, Nathan Summers and Henry Chronik

A6's awaited after flight training.  In January 1972, Mike Smith (67) and I, were with our wives at Disneyland, during work-ups with the Kitty-Hawk. We heard an announcement over Disney's PA-system, Kitty-Hawk sailors report back to the ship immediately! Mike looked at me and said, "This is not good!" That was the beginning of an eleven-month cruise, over 250 combat missions, most in the North. We ended the war. The POWs were released! Seeing videos of the POWs being released still brings tears to my eyes. Two children later and a tour as an Admiral's aide, led Linda and me to Cambridge, MA and an MBA at Harvard. During the summer, Mike Smith, Mike Clark and wives joined Linda and me for a long-weekend in NYC while I interned on Wall Street. The responsibilities of Wall Street paled compared to the responsibilities of a young naval officer. Graduation took us to Boise, Idaho where the most-important thing that happened was a squabble with my wife.  That started my journey to Christ. Boulder, Colorado followed, then, Emporia, Virginia, and  Cleveland and  Progressive Insurance. The CEO was one of the savviest business people I have ever encountered and a clever leader, but he also was an avowed hedonist, by his own braggadocios admission. His hedonism and my fledgling, immature Christianity didn't mix well. His generosity allowed me to buy my own company.

One of the great joys of Progressive was the privilege of working with Steve Leaman and enjoying Miss Gil. Steve did a much better job for Progressive than I did, and helped them get to where they are today.  The Leaman and Newton families made memorable trips to Philly for Army-Navy, until the wives discovered NYC shopping! One memory for life! ‘ One year I recommended a Philly hotel for our football teammates. I'd read it was fabulous! It was so bad; no elevator; the showers were so small, Steve was trapped inside one. I was fired from "hotel picking" and permanently barred from concierge duty. SATEC Systems, my company, was one of life's greatest joys and blessings. Grove City, PA sports a great college, and some of the hardest-working most-dependable people on the face of the earth. The staff I inherited was top-drawer, the staff we added complementary, including John Bunce, a Harvard classmate, who was superior in intellect, character, and competence. John and Nancy have become life-long friends and brother/sister in Christ.  SATEC grew four-fold, and we bought five other small companies to fold into it, while also buying a company in Asheville, NC.  I sold SATEC hoping my employees would have a more secure, beneficial future with their new, ASE company owners.  I sold the Asheville company a year later.

That led to a new career as a Pastor. I joined Woodland Hills Church after being ordained by Parkside Church, our home church in Solon, Ohio for almost 20 years.  The influence that God had on me through Alistair Begg and the Elders at Parkside is immeasurable and invaluable. I came to love the people at Woodland Hills and reluctantly left to go to Uganda, Africa to teach in a seminary.  I am now pastor at a very small (under 30 attendees) start-up church, serve on three boards, write occasionally, manage our finances and travel to see our son, daughter, and grand-kids - all of whom God has blessed us with great relationships.  Not a day goes by without using what I learned at USNA in some way. To separate USNA from who I am would be impossible.  I bleed Navy Blue and Gold and am proud of the stain. The friendships God has given me with classmates are precious gifts, never to be taken lightly!  Christ has changed me more than any other person. The Bible has put into context the positive character lessons we learned at Mother B.

L to R: Bill Newton, son Michael, and Rick Thurmond [son’s friend and editor Charlotte Magazine], at Navy vs. NC State bowl game in Charlotte, NC Dec 2006

Bill and Linda Newton with student in Uganda Baptist Seminary

I served two tours in the Marine Division, Force Service Support Group, and Marine Air Wing as well as a tour on Inspector-Instructor Duty, and three tours of Support Establishment duty.    After commanding Marines as a Lieutenant, Captain, Major, and Lieutenant Colonel, and commissioning my eldest son as a Lieutenant of Marines, I retired from the United States Marine Corps in June of 1994 while serving my final tour in the Installation and Logistics Division at Headquarters, U. S. Marine Corps.   I relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, and spent the next 22 years in the Precast Concrete industry in Atlanta, Georgia.  In several technical and leadership roles until I retired again on 30 December 2015. I firmly believe that I have been guided over the years by the ideals that I learned in Scouting, the Naval Academy, and the United States Marine Corps.   Patriotism, Discipline, Respect, Courage, Brotherhood, Honesty, Loyalty, and Fairness are but a few that I can easily point out. Semper Fi Charles R. Rivenbark LtCol USMC (Ret)

My Academy experience was ended after three semesters due to my academic performance.  However, my Company Officer, Major Conaty, knew that I had planned to go into the Marine Corps, had confidence in me, and recommended that I investigate the USMC’s PLC program.  So, fifty years later, I am writing this to let those of you, who for some reason fail to complete the Academy, know that, your desire to serve your country as a commissioned officer does not have to be over, and is achievable with some hard work. Upon leaving the Academy, I returned to Wilmington, NC, my hometown, found work, reported to the local Naval Reserve Unit, and got accepted into Wilmington College.  I got my grades up, got accepted into the PLC program (transferring to the Marine Corps Reserve), and continued to work towards my goal of a commission in the Marine Corps.   I completed the combined PLC summer program (OCS) in August 1968.  I transferred to North Carolina State University, and earned a BS in Civil Engineering, convinced my lovely wife to be my Bride, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U S Marine Corps in September of 1970.   I was assigned as a Combat Engineer, and later earned a MS in Industrial Engineering thru the Advanced Degree Program.

Ann and Charles Rivenbark, 26 Oct 2014 at Sean & Terri’s Wedding

Sean, Charles, and Charles Rivenbark Jr., 26 Oct 2014

My life-altering Navy mission was a deployment for the Commander Naval Security Group. I was one of six officers, the only LT and 5 senior officers. The Commander leading the group recommended the Admiral give me whatever assignment I wanted. I selected Executive Officer at NSGA Anchorage, AK to get into a command track.  During my time in Alaska, I saw everything. Women in the Navy. Withdrawal from Vietnam. Death notifications all over Alaska, even one to an island.  The proudest moment of my Navy career occurred in Anchorage when I stood up to NIS, now NCIS, and my skipper, in what I felt was entrapment.  NIS had arrived from Adak and wanted to interview a female sailor. They used a conference room and when they took a break, I went down to check on her. She was in tears! I took her immediately to my office.  NIS had accused her of being gay because of one experience in boot camp when six young women bonded together over severe harassment from a female CPO. I immediately called a USAF legal officer and asked him to drop everything and get to my office. 

NIS came back from their break and went berserk! I had their witness. She was not talking with them until she had a lawyer present. What a scene. Yelling, intimidation, threatening the CO and me. I held my ground. She didn’t talk to them again. They were incensed! Then, we were told to give her an administrative discharge. I went out of the way to get her an Honorable Discharge. She was one of our best sailors and had earned it. This event defined my career. Doing the right thing was far more important than doing something easy but wrong. I hope my twin daughters, Rachel and Katherine, learned from me that honor and integrity is paramount. I hope they learned it’s critical to do the right things in life, not the easy ones. And, that they pass this on to their children. My life after the Navy was incomplete until I met my wife, Betsy. Everything changed the day of our blind date in 1984 and I am forever grateful she came into my life. I would never have made it this far without her.

Tom Schram, June week, 1965

USNA’s most important lesson was never quit!

CDR Robert M. Schram USNR RET as “Guest of Honor at noon meal” and Tom Schram, USNA ’69 at the Mess Hall anchor on 7 APR 2005

Chris Senkler (holding Richard Thomas Senkler), Rachel  (Schram) Senkler, Chris Seward, Katherine Schram, Betsy Schram, Tom Schram. August 2017

Classmates

The Legacy of the Class of 1969

Events

Contents

Help

Companies

23rd Company