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On 5 July 2007, 40 members of the Class of 1961 - the
First Grey Tags ---
celebrated the 50th Anniversary of our 1st Day at the U.S. Air Force
Academy at Lowry Air Force Base, Colorado. As you all
remember, we
entered USAFA on 5 July 1957 at the appointed hour of 11:00 AM --- a
notable, remarkable and life-altering event.
Here's the list of those '61ers who celebrated at the Old Lowry facility
--- 50 years' later.....
Mark Anderson Doc Arnold
Sam Barrazone
Ted Bradstreet Bob Brickey
Jack Bright
Tom Brophy
George Buchner Bill Combest
Randy Cubero Jim Darnauer
Paul Dean
Drue DeBerry Tom
Eller
Dick Fairlamb
Pat Gregory
Bill Griffis
Jim Hinkle
Paul Hinton
Bob Holcomb Gene Hopp
Dean Jones
Brice Jones Bob
Kellock
Bill Lane
Bud McCollum Doug McConnell
Worth McCue
Charlie Neel Mike Quinlan
Mike Rawlins
Earl Saunders Ross Shulmister
Terry Storm
Milt Summerfelt Dale Tabor
Charlie Thomas Jim Wilhelm
Frank Willis
Tom (TWC) Wilson
'59 started it 2 years' ago. I had the honor of attending their 1st
Day
Celebration on July 11th 2005. It was Paul Lasen and Charlie
Ferrari's
idea, an idea that I brought forward to our class. '60 did not
hold a
1st Day Event. Since we are the last class to have spent
Doolie Summer
and a full academic year at the Lowry USAFA Campus, it was a very special
and profound event --- one that will never happen again.
We had a Hospitality Room at the Hotel; a dinner at Jim Hinkle's
favorite Italian restaurant, Pesce Fresco; a catered picnic at the
Pavilion on old Lowry that stands where an East Quadrangle dormitory stood;
and a party back at the hotel on Thursday evening.
We were joined at the Pavilion Picnic by one member of the Class of 1959,
Charlie Ferrari (sadly, Paul Lasen could not come); by the CEO of the
Lowry Redevelopment Authority, Tom Markham '66; by the CEO of the Wings
Over the Rockies Aviation Museum, Greg Anderson '72; and by the Rocky
Mountain News.
The forming up in the West Quadrangle was a sight to see! The photos
will be available - someday soon.
One question did come up while we were standing in the West Quad that no
one among us could answer: Where and when did our "swearing-in" occur?
If you remember, let me, Tom Eller, Hector Negroni or Jim Wilhelm know.
The social, reminiscing, story-telling Party on Thursday evening was
amazing. Here we reflected on, and acknowledged all those who
were with
us, and all those who led and drove us through our first summer "war
games." We first toasted our departed brothers . . . then all the Class
Members who could not be with us at Lowry / in Denver......then those who
were present......followed by a toast to our spouses / significant
others......and finally a toast to the Air Training Officers (ATOs) who led
and drove us that first summer --- and who gained our enduring respect for
molding us into an unusually cohesive group.
The overwhelming theme as a Class was a sense of togetherness, solidarity
and cohesiveness --highlighted by Brice Jones' "Epic Poem" as the event
that ended the Party.
I want to thank Jim Hinkle, Ross Shulmister, Dale Tabor and Brice Jones for
"making this happen". Thanks, Guys. You did a
great job.
Can you believe it? Fifty years since the Class of 1961 arrived at the Air
Force Academy? We few made us all proud.
Best regards, Richard "Dick" Fairlamb
817.488.5049 Office
817.488.8849 FAX
817.946.5545 Cell
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