Shared Messages of General Interest

As folks send email to change or add addresses and phone numbers,
they often add a tidbit of information that is probably of interest to everyone.
Accordingly, these messages have been placed in the Shared Messages
navigation bar above. You are encouraged to post any anecdote or input
that will let your classmates know what's going on or how and what you're
doing. All gossip and news of general interest will be accepted. All jokes
and puns will be measured against a higher standard.

Send your email to HERE

Shared Messages of General Interest - 2011

 

William G. Goodyear
 USAFA Class of 1960
died on 14 December 2011
Atlanta, GA

Bill Goodyear passed away on the 14th of December, 2011 after a bout with cancer.

Andi writes: "Bill Goodyear passed away today a little before 1400 MST.  He had been in hospice with stage 4 liver cancer.  All the details are not yet known but will be forwarded as soon as we know them.  We believe that he will be cremated and wished to have a portion of his ashes interred at the Academy during the Interservice weekend 2012."

Bill's brother-in-law, Charles Neal, writes: "I regret to inform you that Bill Goodyear died yesterday of cancer at his home in Atlanta.  Bill's wife, brother, daughters and other family members, myself included, were at his side and yesterday he told us he was contented, ready "to go through the door."  At his request he will be cremated. A memorial service will be arranged, currently it is expected to be soon after New Year's Day in the Atlanta area and he also said he desired one be held at the Air Force Academy and that is expected to be significantly later. Bill's wife Linda prefers some privacy here in the immediate future and requests that you do not call; however, emails are welcome."  Please contact the webmaster HERE for her email address.

 

 

 

Date:  21 July 2011     

To:      Class of 1960

From:   Andi Biancur

Subject:  USAFA-Army Game Weekend

O. K., here is the first "Heads Up" for the Inter Service (Rosie's) weekend get-together in 2011. As in the past, this year it will take place 3 - 6 November, 2011 around the Air Force - Army football game. The format will be; show up, eat, talk, laugh, and watch a win - no business - just comraderie and enjoyment.

You will need to make your own travel arrangements and obtain football tickets. We will find appropriate locations for Thursday night reception, Friday and Saturday evening meals and take care of the tailgate arrangements.

Things you need to do:

* Make your own travel reservations.  We have secured a block of rooms at the Embassy Suites. If you choose to stay there, the reservation numbers are: (800) 362-2779 or (719) 599-9100 and mention the "Class of 1960."

* Obtain your own football tickets. The numbers for the ticket office are: (800) 666-8723 or (719) 472-1895. Request East-side seating in the area where reunion classes sit.

* Remember to bring cold weather gear as November can be chilly.

 

All meals and the tailgate will be "Dutch."

There will be no class merchandise.

 

Let us know your plans as soon as possible. We definitely need a head count NLT 15 September to plan the meal locations and the tailgate size.

To date, I have heard from three out-of-town couples (Fries, Farquhar, and Luck) who plan to be here. As we get closer, we will send out another reminder with any updates.

If you have questions, please contact me or one of the locals.

Andi

(719) 488-4317, bacfly60@msn.com.

 

 

 

To add your opinion on renaming Falcon Stadium click HERE  (or send an email to Andi HERE).

Date:       16 June 2011

To:         Class of '60

From:     Duck Waddle

Subject:  Renaming Falcon Stadium

Friends:

Ramsey's column in the Gazette reviews this issue very well. Brock's position was well stated. We have had a series of great football coaches. To name Falcon Stadium after one of them is not a good idea. What happens later when a coach comes along that has a record better than De Berry's? Troy Calhoun is  well on the way. De Berry has been elected to the College Football Hall of Fame. Perhaps more significant than naming a stadium after him.

We saw this situation lived out at CSU when they named the "football field" Sonny Lubeck field at Hughes Stadium retaining the original name for the stadium. Where does it stop?

Falcon Stadium forever!!!

Is this proposal really a serious proposal? How much support does it have. Who makes the decision and how do we influence the decision? Does the AOG Board have a position?

Thanks for bringing the issue up to the class of '60, Andi. We should weigh in and kill the proposal.

Duck

 

Date:      16 June 2011 

To:         Class of '60

From:     Andi Biancur

Subject:  Renaming Falcon Stadium

Gentlemen,
 
There seems to be a move afoot to consider re-naming Falcon Stadium.  I, for one, think it is a very bad idea.  I agree with Rick Broome and several of the Class of 1959 - to include Brock Strom, that Falcon Stadium is already an icon that needs to remain so.  You can see from this message that several have and will weigh in on that fact.  It seems that overwhelmingly, the opinion of the early grads is to leave it as Falcon Stadium.
 
Rosie & Les;  Do you think it would be worth taking the debate to the class on the website?
 
Dick;  Is this an issue that would fall under the category of something the Senate would want to weigh in on?
 
Just forwarding to keep the class in the loop.
 
Andi

Ref: From the Gazette: http://www.gazette.com/articles/falcon-119674-ramsey-stadium.html

 

 

Date:       6 June 2011

To:         Class of 1960

From:     Lew Price

Subject:  USAFA Academic Excellence

Some time ago, a request was posted asking some questions which would be included in an article
which I thought would be published in Checkpoints.  Apparently, those who actually edit Checkpoints
did not feel that the article was of a high priority even though the editor had asked for it and had it altered
sufficiently for the magazine. Checkpoints has a Board that seems to have the final say, and there
are a lot of submissions according to what I have been told.
 
Consequently, I increased the length of the article by adding more of the comments from you folks. 
I also added an introduction so that civilians would understand more about service academies.  Then
I placed it on my website where it will have considerably more exposure and possibly educate the
public on some of the history of USAFA. 
 
You can access it with www.lewpaxtonprice.us/aep.htm .
 
Anyone who wishes to copy it for another website is welcome to do so, and if any magazine
should want it that is all right too.  It is now public property.
 
Thanks for all the help.


Lew

Contact Lew at: lewprice@softcom.net

 

 

Date:       May 22, 2011

To:          Classmates

From:     Jim Brown

 

I haven't worn this shirt in years!

 

My aid saw it in my closet and wanted the story. It got me thinking of you guys and so many others from so many years ago. I think of you often, especially the old 1st Squadron guys. Those were great years, even though didn't finish with the rest of you.

I'm in a fine Skilled Nursing Unit in Indy - Marquette Manor. I have a rare degenerative disease called Multiple System Atrophy (MSA). It affects all the bodily muscles including those in the mouth and tongue. I cannot stand, swallow or speak but I have nurses and aids to pick me up and move me about, a stomach feeding tube for nourishment and iPad with special talking software for communication. Modern technologies are great!

I don't know if you are aware, but Fran died of pancreatic, liver and lung cancer in October of 2005, a year after I was cured of Leukemia.

Also had to quit flying and skiing! The worst by-products of the MSA for me.


My best wishes to you and the rest of the Class of 1960. I hope you are both well.


Jim Brown


 

 

Noel Paul Bailey
 USAFA Class of 1960
died on 26 April 2011
Greensboro, NC

GREENSBORO — Noel Paul Bailey passed away on April 26, 2011 at Beacon Place.
A private memorial service will be held in Greensboro on Sunday, May 1, 2011.
Noel is survived by his wife of 53 years, Alyce Whalen Bailey; daughter, Dena Elise Bailey; granddaughter, Bailey Joslyn Stecker; sister, Christine Bailey Gaines and many nephews and nieces.
Noel was predeceased in death by his son, Bruce J. Bailey and his parents George and Lucretia Bailey.
From an early age, Noel loved the outdoors and throughout life he enjoyed sailing, woodworking and gardening. Noel will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro at 2500 Summit Ave., Greensboro, NC 27405.
On-line condolences may be offered at http://www.forbisanddick.com/.

 

 

Date:       March 30, 2011

To:          Classmates

From:     Jim Brown

Subject:  Move

As a result of the worsening of my condition (Multiple System Atrophy) and for safety reasons, beginning on March 21 I moved into the Marquette Manor assisted living facility in Indy.

My new address is:
James E. Brown
8150 Township Line Road
Apt 203
Indianapolis, IN  46260

My phone numbers remain the same:
317-254-0018 (Landline)
317-519-6775 (Cell)
However, since I have lost my speaking ability, these are not very useful except for texting to my cell.

My email address remains:  jebrown@aol.com

I'll be happy to hear from you.

My Best Wishes to you all,    Jim Brown

 

 

 

From: Les Querry

Date: March 28, 2011

 

I just returned from a trip to Greensboro, NC to visit my Doolie-year roommate, Noel "Beetle" Bailey, who has bone cancer and only a few more weeks to live.  While there I had three visits with him and spent many hours showing photos and videos of the Class of '60.  He was weak and disfigured but was keenly interested in what had transpired with the Class.  He enjoyed very much reading the bios of his classmates that were prepared for the yearbook and expressed his pride in being a member of the Class.  His wife and daughter said that he has not been so alert for quite some time.  He truly enjoyed briefly "going back" to the Academy.
 

 

 

Gary Lyle Karschnick
 USAFA Classes of 1959 & 1960
died on 23 January 2011
Melbourne, FL

Gary Karschnick passed away on the 23rd of January, 2011 after a long bout with cancer. There will be a service on Sat, Jan 29. 11am at Brownlie-Maxwell Funeral Home, Melbourne, FL. Info can be found at www.brownliemaxwell.com.  His wife Diane can be reached at 905 N Harbor City Blvd, Apt 204, Melbourne, Fl 32935.
Gary was a a graduate of the US Air Force Academy Class of 1960 and a retired Airline Pilot for Delta Airlilnes. He served 14 years in the Air Force and 25 years with Delta Airlines. He was a volunteer for the HRMC Auxilliary and Road to Recovery for the American Cancer Society. He loved travel and aviation.

He is survived by his wife Diane, Daughter Rhema (Mack), and 2 granddaughters, Arielle and Kaleigh and his dog, Barney.

 

 

Date:    14 January 2011 

To:        USAFA Class of 1960

From:    Elaine Mills Eklund

Subject: Jim Mills


Hello to Andi, other Officers and Members of the Class of 1960.

This is to express my appreciation and gratitude for all the work everyone did for the Reunion in October.  I especially thank John and Deanne McCullough for inviting me to represent my brother Jim Mills and for hosting me throughout the festivities.  They have been extraordinary friends to my bother and to our family for a long time. I also enjoyed meeting many of the rest of you who attended.

Because James (as we called him at home) served in the Marine Corps and died so long ago, the Air Force Academy fell off my radar screen over the years. The reunion was one of those too-rare opportunities to learn more about his life and to collect stories about him that I can share with other family members.   I do so much appreciate the stories I heard, so in return I'd like to share some information with you about his life after graduation until he died in 1968.  Like many of you, he met and married the love of his life, Mary Ann, and they produced a daughter, Melanie.  Mary Ann lives in Laguna Beach, California and Melanie is in San Luis Obispo.  Melanie is a landscape architect, married to Tony, and they have a daughter and son, Lucy and Milo.  Melanie and Lucy's last name is Mills and Milo shares his father's surname (a 21st century naming convention, I think, but I like that they are honoring the Mills name).

A few years ago, my brother's squadron (stationed in Japan 1964-65) held a reunion and sent me an invitation. I didn't attend, but I was able to collect some stories from the Marines with whom he served as well as a picture I'd never seen before (attached); this is now my all-time favorite picture of him. I have put some of the Marines' recollections together in a short biography (attached).  Although he had a biting wit, which some of you no doubt have experienced, I was most impressed by the regard that the enlisted Marines expressed for him and his egalitarian attitudes; they had plenty of other officers who treated them as lesser beings.  I also see that sense of humor in the smile I see in this picture.

Since the reunion, my younger brother has salvaged some old home movies that are now on DVDs. I got a real kick out of pictures of your graduation in the field next to what appears to be the only completed building (with the yellow panel). You must have had a classroom, too.  
 
I have received some pictures from some of you from those years.  However, I was not able to record a lot of your stories while at the reunion, so if you feel like putting them in an e-mail, I will welcome hearing from you.  And, again, thank you all.  

Elaine (Mills) Eklund

 

James Dale "Jim" Mills

July 1, 1937 - January 29, 1968

 

Born in Port Arthur, Texas, and known to his family as James, he was Jim to Marines and to classmates at the US Air Force Academy. A member of the second class of the academy, he was one of six who chose to be commissioned in the Marine Corps on graduation in 1960.

His intelligence and drive to succeed may have been camouflaged beneath a wicked wit and down home story-telling persona, but were never hidden from those who knew him, those who served with him, and those who loved him. Colleagues in the Marine Corps have attested to his excellent abilities as a pilot. He served as an LSO (Landing Safety Officer) on carriers. He worked geometry problems to relax after work. He tried out for the Blue Angels and volunteered for NASA physical tests related to the astronaut program. He treated officers and enlisted men with respect. He would give a lecture on the evils of smoking while mixing a drink. He learned to play golf at the AFA, made the academy team, and was passionate about golf for the rest of his life. He loved his family.

In 1964 he married Mary Ann Hays and their daughter Melanie was born in 1965. Melanie is a landscape architect living in San Luis Obispo, CA with her husband , Tony Skapinsky, and their daughter and son, Lucy Evans Mills and Milo Skapinsky. Mary Ann lives in Laguna Beach, CA.

Jim's sister, Elaine Mills Eklund, lives in Atlanta, GA, and brother Bob Mills lives in Commerce, TX.

Recently, former Marines and AFA classmates have shared their memories, impressions, stories, and pictures with his family. These have been precious and invaluable gifts. They fill in information for those years when he was away from home or before he started his own family with information that only those serving with him could know. Some representative samples follow:

"We were in our early 20's and single. Much of what we did was semi-insane the rest of it was completely insane. We flew too low and too fast. We drank too much too often and we chased women. We always blamed the proximity of the Marine base for our lack of success with the latter.

One of the great perks for pilots was getting to go on weekend cross-countries. Our government saw fit to give million dollar airplanes and fuel to young men and let us go wherever we wanted. Your tax dollars at work. It was on one of those trips that we flew into NAS at Dallas. I don't remember who picked us up. but we then went to Commerce. That is when I met you (Elaine) and your folks. As an aside, the slang name for a pilot who is not a very good aviator is "plumber." Jim introduced me to your father by saying, "You and Dad have a lot in common. He's a plumber too."

 

I remember one time Jim and I were sitting on the front porch drinking beer and being eaten alive by three pound North Carolina swamp mosquitoes. We had just finished being rejected by every girl we knew. It was hot and sticky, and we were broke and on our last beers with a whole weekend ahead of us. I turned to Jim and said,"At least I had no choice about ending up here. You could have staved in the Air Force and been living the good life.” Jim looked at me and said, "What, and miss all this?"

 

When I think of Jim, and I do often, I remember the humor, the wild times and the certainty that I could always depend on him when it was important. I was always amused by his "aw shucks" demeanor that he used to hide his great intellect.

 

Unfortunately, my memories of Lt. Mills are only that he was real friendly and always seemed to be smiling Back then, the officers didn't commiserate with the enlisted guys so there wasn't much (if any) interaction between us. ...Jim, on the other hand, always took the time to acknowledge everyone he came in contact with, regardless of rank. I always appreciated that and often thought that he'd be a great guy to know outside the military. Unfortunately, I never got to find out.

 

I really liked Jim, and, although we were in different squadrons at the Academy, I knew him well, and loved him.

 

Jim had the reputation of being an excellent pilot. As you know, your brother played golf at the Air Force Academy and continued later whenever he could. We all had nicknames and your brother was called either "Molino" from our Spanish class at the Academy for Mills or "Cool Breeze" because he had a very undemonstrative personality, but he did have a very cutting wit. It was my pleasure to know your brother and I was very sad to hear of his death in Vietnam in his aircraft.

 

On serving with the Navy as flight instructors at NAS Kingsville: I soon discovered that Jim was one of the few fully qualified instructors in VT-22, most of who were Marines, naturally. It became a source of pride to we Marines to be able to instruct throughout the flight syllabus, from A stage through L stage, and I quickly set out to match Jim's qualifications. During the course of my own qualifications, Jim and I flew many flights together as student and instructor since he was also Instructor Under Training (JUT) qualified and helped certify me for instructional duties. I found Jim to be an exceptionally good pilot who could not only fly the aircraft, but also he was adept at explaining the aerodynamics associated with whatever flight regime was the current topic of discussion along with the learning points we wanted to instill in the students.

 

We didn't earn much during those days and I remember Jim phoning my home one Friday evening and asking if my wife Ann and I would like to join several couples who were going to attend a high school football game that evening. To my embarrassment, I was dead broke at the time, and couldn't even scrape together the price of admission. Not being quick witted enough to provide a plausible excuse, I told Jim my problem saying we'd love to go, but we're broke. Not only did Jim offer to pay our way, he provided the money for a baby sitter to boot saying, "We've all been there, don't be embarrassed about it."

 

Jim would always seem to provide us with a laugh during our weekly AI/Instructors Meeting. Remember, the war was reaching its peak and the student throughput in VT -22 was tremendous. Consequently, we were working 6-7 days per week and 12-14 hours a day. It was grueling. Jim, always in good spirits, would find a way to kid with the Flight Surgeon about some obscure point of flight physiology that would crack us up or describe some erratic behavior of one of his students to provide a humorous learning point. I think it was Jim who invented the "Dumb Ass of the Week Award" to be awarded to the instructor who pulled the biggest boner during the week. Believe me, we had many to pick from each week considering the tempo of flight operations and some of the seagulls we were getting as instructors, at that time. To meet the demands of the war, the Navy really scraped the bottom of the barrel. As I said previously, at the height of the war, there were only 12 instructors out of 60 or 70 who were fully syllabus qualified. We were in an elite group.

 

I went to the Viet Nam memorial to say good bye to Jim when it first opened. I think of him often and feel the sadness of all of the life he was denied. But I usually end up smiling remembering the life he had.

 

Jim Mills was quoted as saying that "One day you lace up your boots and that's it." Far from being fatalistic, however, he also is quoted as saying while in Chu Lai, South Vietnam (late '67/early '68), "I'll never leave Mary Ann and Melanie again."

Compiled by Elaine Mills Eklund using remembrances from Marine Corps and Air Force Academy colleagues and classmates.  If you have stories for Jim’s family, please send them to Elaine at elaekl@mindspring.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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