This page was last updated on: January 26, 2006
CLASSMATE NEWS.
FRED MITCHELL, our Corps Commander, passed away on May 2, 2005 from a massive heart attack. He will be buried at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio.
Fred, we will miss you very much.
His family requests that remenbrances be sent to the FREDERICK H. MITCHELL Memorial Fund for the Corps of Cadets. Your check should be to the fund and mailed to the Texas A&M Foundation, 401 George Bush Drive, College Station, TX 77840.
E- Mail from John Kimbrough: Just got bad news concerning NORMAN HILL '54.
He was recently diagnosed with ALS ( Lou Gerhig's Disease). He is very ill. I do not know any more except he wants to say hello to all his ' 54 classmates.
Two '54 Yell Leaders Serve as AFYL President
The Association of Former Yell Leaders has had two '54 Classmates serve as President ----- JOE WEST, the first Association President when the organization was formed in 1994 and now JIMMY TYREE for the current year.
The AFYL was formed to support current Yell Leaders.
The new "tradition" First Yell was initiated by the AFYL. Proceeds from this event go into an endowment, overseen by the A&M Foundation, which provides an annual scholarship for each of the 5 Yell Leaders.
All 3 of the Class of '54 Yell Leaders, Joe, Jimmy, and MONTY MONTGOMERY, are Life Time Members of the organization and was the first class to have all its Yell Leaders as Life Time Members.
From the Guest Book:
AL ABDULLAH Tuesday, 7/12/05, 2:07 PM
HOWDY, and Gig'Em Aggies. Maybe see some of you this football season. Enjoyed our 50th.
From: Dalhart, TEXAS
E-mail: asadvm@xit.net
JOE WEST reports the following:
JERRY LEDWIG and wife Joan recently celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary. This festive celebration was held on Saturday, July 2, 2005 at the St.Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in College Station. Among the 170 relatives and friends attending from 13 states included several '54 classmates: TOM DARLING and wife Evelyn, KEN HALL and friend, CeCe Kotara, JIMMY TYREE and wife, Jimmie, ED WRIGHTEd and wife Shirley, and JOE WEST and wife, Carrie...almost a '54 mini-reunion! Delicious food, fellowship, many pictures, children, music from the renown Pete Rodriquez Band, and even a Grand March helped cap a memorable occasion. Congratulations, Jerry and Joan, for a wonderful life together!
DENNY COLE: Where are you? We know that your home is New Orleans, but we would really like to know how you are and your current location. Good news! AL ABDULLA writes: "We had dinner with Brud Pickett Monday eve. in Ft. Worth. Brud called Denny Cole, who was with relatives in Houston. I also talked with Denny. He said he was ready to go back to his home in New Orleans and survey the damage. We are thankful for being able to visit with him. Keep Denny in your prayers.
Gig'Em, Al Abdullah"
Thanks Al for this info. Our prayers are with you, Denny.
Okey - This is not truly "Classmate News", but I didn't know where else to put it. Our former scholarship student, Jarrod Breclaw, writes to Allen Cunningham
Howdy Mr. Cunningham,
None of my immediate family was affected by Katrina, though we do have some extended family who lived in and around New Orleans. Some of my mom's family had to evacuate, but at least everyone is alive and well.
I have been working at National Instruments in Austin now for about 6 weeks. I am an applications engineer in what's called the Engineering Leadership Program (ELP) at NI. In this program, we learn about the company's products and then do customer support for about 1 year. After that time, we get to choose whether we would like to move into Marketing, Sales, R&D, or Manufacturing. I chose this position because of the opportunities for growth, and because of the quality and culture of the people in the department. I am enjoying it, but it is certainly keeping me busy. Later, when I get more experience, I will be able to teach customer classes and work on special projects.
As for this past semester, I got all A's and graduated Summa Cum Laude. I also received the Engineering Scholar's Program and Cooperative Education distinctions, though these are not shown on my diploma. It was a good end to my five-year stay at Texas A&M. I cannot even describe how thankful I am for your support. My success at A&M was possible because of the generous contributions of the Class of 1954. Please relay my thanks to the members of your class.
I have other news as well. Soon after graduating, I proposed to Amber and we are now engaged! Our wedding date is set for June 17, 2006. She will still have a year of vet school at that point, so we will have a long-distance relationship for a little less than a year. We are definitely ready to be married, though, and we are confident that we will be able to overcome the difficulties of being apart.
Thanks for your concern about my family. I hope that you a! nd Mrs. Cunningham are both doing well. If you are ever in Austin, feel free to give me a call and we could do lunch or something. My number is 512-484-4192.
Take care,
Jarrod
JOHN FARRELL reports: Some bad news for me. I have prostate cancer which has spread to other parts of my body. I am receving treatment from M D. Anderson in Houston. I have just started treatment and will have a better read on my body s reaction in December. I am in no pain and my spirit is good. John
Well, we got a late Christmas present from JOHN FARRELL. He reports that he just went through his six months check-up at M. D. Anderson and got an excellent report. The medication is having the desired effect. John, thanks so much for the very good news.
From AL ABDULLAH as reported on our Web Page:
Al Abdullah Saturday, 12/31/05, 6:52 PM
Talked with Bobby Mousa and Brud Pickett last week. Everyone is as good as can be expected. Mousa is recovering from 2 broken shoulders. Picket was on his way to dialysis. We said Merry CHRISTmas. I think I'll stay at home and bolt the door until after 1/01/06. Happy New Year !!! and GIG'EM
From: DAlhart
E-mail: asadvm@xit.net
Kupfer Distinguished Executive Lecture Series
NICK ALEXANDER, ALLEN CUNNINGHAM, JOE WEST AND BILL YOUNG attended the Kupfer Distinguished Executive Lecture Series at the Mays Business School at Texas A&M on October 25, 2005. As you know this series is sponsored by classmates GERALD RAY AND DONALD ZALE in memory of classmate
HAROLD KUPFER. This years distinguished executives were Ed Kruse '49, Howard Kruse '52 and Paul Kruse '77 of Blue Bell Ice Cream. They stressed product quality and employee care as important keys to their success to the business students. This was the fifteenth program in this series.
HAROLD KUPFER. This years distinguished executives were Ed Kruse '49, Howard Kruse '52 and Paul Kruse '77 of Blue Bell Ice Cream. They stressed product quality and employee care as important keys to their success to the business students. This was the fifteenth program in this series.
In addition to the lectures Gerald and Donald sponsor the Kupfer Scholarship Program which recognizes an outstanding business student in the Corps of Cadets. This years honoree was Andrey Postrigan '06 who carries a 3.401 GPA in the double major of accounting and finance. In his spare time his other activities include Ranger Challenge (the super bowl of ROTC units, which A&M won for the fifth straight year), Rudder Rangers, Corps Marathon Team, O.R. Simpson Honor Society, Commandants Honor Roll, ROTC Academic Distinguished Student, Veterans of Foreign Wars Award Recipient, U.S. Airborne School, Warrior Training Battalion Commander, Recondo and Distinguished Military Student. It is rewarding to see that today's students are maintaining the high academic standards set by our class. He intends to join the infantry (paddle feet) upon graduation. Andrey is a native of Kiev, Ukraine and immigrated here with his parents as a child,
Here is a little "Inter-office" info for you:
Howdy Fred,
JIMMY TYREE telephoned this morning with some classmate news. He said
RAYMOND A. BLACKWEEL died of heart failure in connection with chemo therapy for cancer. Also, he said BOB MOUSA is doing much better. T9 FIELDS is in a rest home. He is up to 400 pounds now. Also, he is ready for any mini reunion we set up. He had occasion to meet with some of the Class of '06 officers and they are planning a joint meeting with the Class of '56 at their reunion. Look's like we started a tradition.
RAYMOND A. BLACKWEEL died of heart failure in connection with chemo therapy for cancer. Also, he said BOB MOUSA is doing much better. T9 FIELDS is in a rest home. He is up to 400 pounds now. Also, he is ready for any mini reunion we set up. He had occasion to meet with some of the Class of '06 officers and they are planning a joint meeting with the Class of '56 at their reunion. Look's like we started a tradition.
I am anxiously awaiting foot signing day.
ALLEN
