B a c k, B a c k...... t o C u l v e r D a y s Class of 1949 April 2015 HEADQUARTERS, CULVER MILITARY ACADEMY 49ERS 2015 OPEN HOUSE WEEKS! NOTICE! Our heading reads: Open House Weeks. We 49ers DID gather at two separate events spanning a two week period, February 19 th through March 4 th. First, we had our planned Quail Ridge Country Club (QRCC) Open House February 19 22 nd. Then, we had a Special 49ers Luncheon on March 4 th. Here are the details: Regarding the QRCC Weekend, a total of twenty five 49ers and guests participated in the events and happenings! There was plenty of visiting, entertaining, and the most important loafing around. The athletics (golf and tennis) were deemphasized this year, as, unfortunately, this was mostly due to some cold weather. SPECIAL NOTES OF THANKS: To father Bob Randall, who again displayed his extensive piano playing talents before our Class dinner. He then provided his unique and moving special Culver invocation at Dinner. In addition, Bob and his partner won the golf match against Paul Gignilliat and Pete Smith! To Libbie Vollmer ( Smith ), who again was our Official Photographer for the weekend, providing the enclosed photos for this letter. To the Culver Alumni Office, which for the 5 th year has again hosted all cocktails and hors d oeuvres for our Saturday Class Dinner. Also, our thanks to Amy at the Office for sending special Culver luggage tags as favors for the Class Dinner. To the QRCC management and staff for again providing us with excellent service and support.
Page 2 THE OPEN HOUSE WEEKEND ROSTER OF 49ERS ATTENDING: Ken and Gene Ackerman Bob and Marilyn Ellyson Bill Green Dave and Joan Runkel Pete and Sherry Smith Ed and Dorothy Dugan Paul and Ellen Gignilliat Arthur Kurtz Cortlandt Smith Yvonne Speidel OUR VERY SPECIAL GUESTS: Reverend Bob Randall Lynn Timmerman (Class of 1931, Woodcraft) Kim Green and Mike Bartholomew (Bill s daughter and her husband) Biff Green and Kirsten Thompson (Bill s son and his friend) Jim and Nina Green (Bill s son and his wife) (NOTE: Kim, Biff and Jim are all Culver Graduates.) Libbie (Smith) Vollmer Wendy Eagan, Sherry Smith s Sister 49ERS WHO SENT MESSAGES, BUT COULD NOT ATTEND: Bill Black Walter Brooks Paul Corkins Dean Devoe Charlie Ferdon Gus Hoster Mike Huber John Kourmadas Dave MacKenzie Mrs. Jane Monroe Mrs. Janet Poulston Rudy Schneidhorst Bill Teich John Webster Mrs. Ann Yocum Jim Henderson Tony Lamborn with a special, moving, and memorable message. L to R: Bob Ellyson, Cort Smith, Bill Green, Dave Runkel L to R: Bill Green, Mike Bartholomew, Kirsten Thompson, Kim Green, Biff Green
Page 3 THE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19 TH : We early arrivals had dinner together at Quail Ridge Country Club. Attending were the Gignilliats, the Pete Smiths, and Art Kurtz. Our ranks were thin, due to last minute health issues with the Kihms and Stroups, but we strove mightily to maintain the high level of fellowship and socializing associated with this group! FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20 TH : Gene Ackerman and Sherry Smith In the evening, Sherry and Pete Smith hosted their cocktail and dinner party at their home for our 49ers group. Including some of our special guests, there were approximately 22 of us attending. It was an informal affair, featuring a buffet style dinner and plenty of socializing. L to R: Barbara Santangelo, Art Kurtz, Ellen and Paul Gignilliat, Pete and Sherry Smith, Wendy Eagan A highlight of the evening was the presentation of THE ACKERMAN AWARD. This went to Ken Ackerman. It was a crisp, new one dollar bill. In previous years Ken had made the mistake of advising Cort and Pete that someone would have to PAY him to come to Florida! Well, we thought this Award and its amount were appropriate. All of our guests seemed to applaud in agreement! Gene Ackerman and Pete Smith KEN, it was great to see you and Gene! Ken Ackerman SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21 ST : Rev. Bob Randall, with his QRCC member partner, put on quite a golf clinic as they easily disposed of Pete Smith and Paul Gignilliat in an 18 hole match. As Rev. Bob gracefully ages, his golf game keeps getting younger! Pete and Paul also have to improve! Saturday afternoon Art Kurtz, Paul Gignilliat, Libbie Vollmer and her friend, Barbara Santangelo, engaged in a card game of bridge, which we understand lasted about three hours. We never could find out exactly who partners were and who won! We DID get the impression, though, that it was SOME bridge game!! continued on next page
Page 4 SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21st, continued: Saturday evening we held our 49ers Class Dinner on the private patio at QRCC. The Culver Flag once again flew at Quail Ridge! We were in the open air, the weather was beautiful, the traditional Culver decorations were great, and we again had the Rev. Bob Randall playing our favorite songs. What an evening!! The Program began with all standing during play-recording of Our National Anthem. L to R: Mike Bartholomew, Kim Green, Kirsten Thompson, Biff Green, Nina Green, Bill Green, Jim Green L to R: Wendy Eagan, Sherry Smith, Paul and Ellen Gignilliat Father Bob then delivered his very unique Culver Invocation (please see above.) We remained standing in silence, honoring our deceased Classmates from May 2014 to present, as Bill Green recited the Roster. L to R: Paul Gignilliat, Pete Smith, Dottie and Ed Dugan Tony Lamborn s (our New Zealand Classmate ) message to the Class was read by Pete Smith. Tony s special message to us was one of the real highlights of the weekend. Pete then followed with some brief closing remarks to the Class. L to R: Joan Runkel, Yvonne Speidel, Marilyn Ellyson As you might expect, the proceedings were closed with the singing of YE MEN OF CULVER and AULD LANG SYNE. Ken and Gene Ackerman Art Kurtz and Ken Ackerman with a man who walked into our party on accident
Page 5 OF SPECIAL MENTION REGARDING OUR OPEN HOUSE WEEKEND: It was great to have KEN and GENE ACKER- MAN, and BOB and MARILYN ELLYSON making their first Open House visit! We all enjoyed seeing them, and hope they ll make it a habit! Also BOB gives us our first Battery rep. We all missed ALAN and WENDY LOEHR, as they had to cancel at the last minute. Also missing, because of last minute health issues, were the NATE STROUPS, JACK KIHMS, GUS HOSTERS, and ANN YOCUM. We missed them VERY much! Yvonne Speidel and Bill Green Dave Runkel and Ellen Gignilliat Missing, too, were BARBARA and MIKE HUBER, our Class agent. We understand MIKE has been quite ill since Christmastime. MIKE, here s hoping this finds you well on the road to recovery! We enjoyed so much visiting with BILL GREEN S attractive sons (BIFF and JIM) and daughter (KIM), and their spouses. Ken and Gene Ackerman, Paul Giginilliat LYNN TIMMERMAN, Woodcraft Class of 1931, is still attending and adding to our Culver Fellowship. LIBBIE VOLLMER and her photography efforts are now covering our Open Houses over a six year period. L to R: Pete Smith, Kirsten Thompson, Biff Green, Mike Bartholomew Finally Maybe we ll try another Open House next year! (Once again using that old Kentucky expression: The Lord willin, and the creek don t rise!) Cort Smith and Paul Gignilliat Ken Ackerman and Bill Green
Page 6 OUR OPEN HOUSE WEEK S SPECIAL 49ERS MARCH 4 TH LUNCHEON Because some of us had last minute health issues, a group of us 49ers planned and attended a special luncheon, to include some of those who could not attend the Weekend itself. We chose Spoto s Oyster Bar in Palm Beach Gardens as our meeting place. Those attending were: Nate and Virginia Stroup Jack and Patti Kihm Dave and Joan Runkel Bill Green Cort Smith and Yvonne Speidel Pete and Sherry Smith L to R Standing: Dave Runkel, Nate Stroup, Jack Kihm, Pete Smith, Bill Green, Cort Smith L to R Sitting: Joan Runkel, Sherry Smith, Yvonne Speidel, Virginia Stroup, Patti Kihm We missed Ed and Dottie Dugan, who had to cancel due to last minute health and doctor issues. L to R Standing: Virginia Stroup and Patti Kihm L to R Sitting: Sherry Smith and Yvonne Speidel The restaurant provided us with a private setting and personalized Culver 49ers menus, plus three attendants who attended to our every need. We were able to spend three leisurely hours visiting and enjoying each other s company. Pete Smith and Bill Green Impressive, too, was the fact that Jack and Patti had flown down from Port Orange for the day, just for this lunch. THIS WAS QUITE A WAY TO WIND UP OUR OPEN HOUSE WEEKS, and we plan on doing this lunch again soon. Pete Smith L to R: Nate Stroup, Jack Kihm, Joan Runkel