1962
2017
Our "Double Nickels" Reunion is now in the records book ... and, WOW, did we set a record:
46* classmates attended!!!
*including Judy Calhoun and Sarah O'Reilly
That number obliterated the previous record of 33 for a 55th set by the Class of '43 in 1998.
Not really statistically significant, but comparing the number of attendees at any 55th to the number at a class's 50th, we were at a record with 60.5% returning (compared to the Class of '37 at 60.0% and the Class of '43 at 58.9%). While there are no official records, having 31 significant others attending certainly is also impressive. Our class can be rightfully proud of the manner in which we demonstrated our loyalty to our alma mater ... and had a heck of good time doing it.
Now, as to the "Double Nickels" logo for our 55th: All credit (or blame) for the concept must go to our Reunion Chair, the irrepressible Mr. Douglas Neumann, and his idea of using one nickel dated 1962 and one dated 2017 to represent the five-five digits of our fifty-fifth year since originally passing through the Iron Gate. Doug reports that finding 1962 nickels was not as challenging as one may think; waiting for 2017 nickels to be minted and become available in time for our reunion was far more nerve wracking.
Many classmates were truly impressed with Doug's ingenuity ... however, a few castigated him as a "cheap SOB": They wanted "fifty-five" to be represented by two quarters and a nickel (a total value of 55 cents rather than a measly 10 cents).
Who all attended? Here's the list:
|
|
|
Battery A: 5 Battery B: 6 Battery C: 1 |
Company A: 6 Company B: 3 Company C: 4 Company D: 6 |
Troop A: 9 Troop B: 5 Band: 0 Coeds: 1 |
TOTALS
Artillery: 12 Infantry: 19 Calvary: 14 Coeds: 1 |
Group Pictures
Back Row (L to R): Brad Laycock, Tom Westbrook, Bill Boies, Frank Johns, Dep Ewing, Lou Desenberg, Craig Kennedy, Mike Ryan, Bob Sindelar, Buzz Eisenberg, & Dick Trimble
Third Row (L to R): Bart Hotchkiss, Howie Bridges, Barry Spitz, Dave Gotshall, Stuart Schram, Raymond Dewey, Rick Carpenter, Malcolm MacQuillan, Dan Baker, Doug Neumann, Joe Schluchter, Steve Cuthbert, & Skip Culver
Second Row (L to R): Jeff Christie, Tom Norris, Jim Runnion, Paul Dolza, Mike Koether, Mitch Fry, Bill Fohey, Rene Murai, Penn Williamson, Paul Van't Hof, & Greg Gazda
Front Row (L to R): Judy Calhoun, Phil Wright, John Davis, Bob Hartman, Craig Duchossois, Jay Owen, & Sarah O'Reilly
Missing: Neil Crist, Mike Hood, Lloyd Huth, Bob Osborn, & Dee Gleason Stinson
Below is the group picture of the spouses attending (including Honorary Classmates Judy Calhoun and Sarah O'Reilly).
Back Row (L to R): Judy Calhoun, Carol Wright, Betsy Davis, Karen Kennedy, Kathy Westbrook, Sharla Hotchkiss, Marian Johns, Patti Culver, Bernadette Christie
Middle Row (L to R): Debbie Ewing, Linda Dewey, Kylee Hodil (Paul Dolza's granddaughter), Sarah Dolza, Carole Van't Hoff , Cheryl Ryan, Stephanie Fohey, Nannie Sue Sindelar, Kathy Spitz, Sarah O'Reilly
Front Row, Sitting: Sue Trimble, Cathy Desenberg, Emily Baker . . . Mona Owen, Mary Bridges, Jacki Schluchter
Missing: Tricia Fox Eisenberg, Luree Huth, Vicki Crist, Mary Lou Gotshall, Ruth Huntley (with Stuart Schram)
What it was like getting these picture taken? Kind of like this video.
While getting the all-class group photos may have been a bit challenging, two organizations were particularly adept at getting their own group photos. First, again, congrats to Troop A for having the most attendees (9) from one organization ... and getting them all together in one picture at the same time.
L to R: Jeff Christie, Howard Bridges, Mike Koether, Neil Crist, Bob Sindelar, Penn Williamson, Buzz Eisenberg, Paul Dolza, & Craig Duchossois
The other organization to get all their attendees (5) together was Battery A.
L to R: Lou Desenberg, Dick Trimble, Greg Gazda, Raymond Dewey, Jay Owen
You can click on this image of the cover of this year's Reunion Week booklet to download a PDF of the entire, all-classes program ...
Check out Page 22 for a familiar picture.
... or you can keep scrolling down this page to see what your Class of '62 did and all the classmates who attended.
The Goody Bag
It has become a tradition at Reunions and Mini Reunions is to have a "Goody Bag" filled with useful and interesting items, to be picked up at Registration. For our 55th, Phil Wright (our Reunion Co-Chair) and his wife Carol volunteered to work with Amy Davis-Johnson in the Alumni Office to identify and procure appropriate items. Most of the items were relatively standard fare: Attendee roster with cell phone numbers and lodging location, reunion schedule, '62 Baseball cap, name badge, etc., ... all in reusable bag with a Culver logo. However, there was a special added attraction. The Wrights included a very unique memento chosen by Carol: An Alex and Ani bracelet featuring an eagle charm, in the spirit of the Culver logo.
During the Registration process and after, Carol diligently made sure every women got exactly her choice of gold or silver finish ... including Amy and Sandy from the Alumni Office plus Mary Power, wife of Dr. Jim Power (the new Head of Schools).
[A side note from your webmaster: My wife LOVED it! She still wears it nearly every day. I had to almost rip it off her wrist to get the brand name and image.]
Wednesday, May 17,2017
Although our Reunion did not officially start until the next day, four couples (Davis, Hotchkiss, Schluchter, and Wright) decided to arrive early to stay an extra day in their 7-bedroom, 3-story "McMansion" on the south end of the lake.
Phil Wright and Joe Schluchter
Judy Calhoun, John & Betsy Davis
After a few libations and appetizers, the group headed to the newly opened Lucrezia Cafe in Downtown Culver. The food and ambience was quite good, but those young whipper-snappers from the 50th Reunion class at the table next to them sure were a rowdy bunch.
Thursday, May 18, 2017
Welcome Gathering at the Naval Building
The plan was to kickoff our reunion with a late-afternoon cruise on the R.H. Ledbetter 3-masted schooner on Lake Maxinkuckee. Regrettably, the weather did not cooperate (too windy, too choppy). So we had to be content with beverages and appetizers in and around the Naval Building.
It's a stock photo, but that's about what the skies looked like that day...
Craig & Karen Kennedy and Margarida & Penn Williamson
Lou Desenberg
Betsy Davis
Mike Hood, Craig Duchossois, and Joe Schluchter
Bart & Sharla Hotchkiss
Judy Calhoun, Margarida Williamson, Carol Wright, and Cathy Desenberg
Brad Laycock and Paul Van't Hof
Barry & Kathy Spitz
Craig Duchossois and John Davis
Stuart Schram, Ruth Huntley, and Luree & Lloyd Huth
(Click on the image for an uncropped version with the Naval Building as the background.)
Following the outdoor socializing, we moved into the Naval Building for a superbly set and catered dinner.
Friday, May 19, 2017
Head of Schools' Luncheon for The Old Guard Association
The first major event of the day was a luncheon for all Old Guard alums (defined as those who graduated 50 years or more ago) in White-DeVries Rowing Center.
The venue was superb (except for the deluge that hit just as most of us were parking), the food delicious, and words by new Head of Schools, Dr. Jim Power, quite brief. Most alums sat with classmates, but there was a bit of fraternization between classes.
That's the upper half of Craig Duchossois' head at the bottom of the picture.
That's Howie Bridges in the lower right.
Iron Gate Re-Creation Ceremony
At our 50th Reunion, we all had the opportunity to again pass through the Iron Gate in a ceremony held in front of Eppley Auditorium. At our 55th, there were five classmates (Jeff Christie, Neil Crist, Steve Cuthbert, Paul Dolza, and Craig Kennedy) who were not at our 50th. They took advantage of the repeated opportunity to again pass through the Gate.
Paul Dolza, his Wife Sarah, and their Granddaughter, Kylee Hodil ... in Front of the Gate
ONE Culver
Reunion Celebration Reception & Dinner
Multipurpose Building
The ONE Culver event brought all Reunion classes together in one venue for one night. Tables had "place cards" for specific classes ...
... but it was more of a suggestion than a requirement.
The person with his back to the camera is Dr. Jim Power, the new Head of Schools. He got into a couple of long, intense conversations with Betsy Davis (mostly hidden on his left) and Carol Wright (back of head on his right). Later, he and Brad Laycock had a long exchange on religious topics.
Brad Laycock, Bill Fohey, Phil Wright
L to R: Stephanie Fohey, Karen Kennedy (profile), Sarah O'Reilly (striped top), Linda Dewey (back of head), Howie Bridges (back of head), Raymond Dewey, Craig Kennedy (profile)
L to R: Greg Gazda (turned away from camera), Emily Baker (listening to Greg), Dan Baker, Lou (drinking) & Cathy Desenberg, Dep Ewing (profile), Debbie Ewing (back of head)
Socializing After ONE Culver
At Lake House of Ashley Joyce (one of Duch's daughters)
Bart Hotchkiss, Mike Koether, Howie Bridges, Mike Ryan, Craig Duchossois, Buzz Eisenberg
L to R: Buzz Eisenberg, Mona & Jay Owen, Cheryl & Mike Ryan, Howie & Mary Bridges
... with the back of Craig Duchossois' head in the center
Rene Murai with Sharla and Bart Hotchkiss
Mike Koether, Rick Carpenter, Mike Hood
Howie & Mary Bridges, Craig Duchossois, Buzz Eisenberg
Saturday, May 20, 2017
Class Meeting
The first event of the day was the Class Meeting, which was held in the auditorium of the Roberts Hall of Science.
The meeting was led by John Davis (Class President and Webmaster) with support from Craig Duchossois and Jay Owen. Click on this image of the title slide to download a PDF of the entire PowerPoint file presented.
Aside from topics like class statistics, the record-breaking attendance at our 55th, status of our Culver Fund participation, events sponsored by our Student Enrichment Fund, and pictures from Mini Reunions held since our 50th Reunion, there were two true highlights of the Meeting:
The first one was having Honorary Classmate Bob Hartman join us and presenting him with a resolution commemorating the establishment of a scholarship in his name.
Bob Hartman Acknowledging Being Introduced
The Class of '62 Acknowledging Bob Hartman After the Reading of the Resolution
Bob Hartman Addressing the Class After the Reading of the Resolution
Click here for an image of the resolution.
The second highlight was having the new Head of Schools, Dr. Jim Power, attending and serving as moderator of a Question and Answer session with students.
The Students:
Adam Davis, currently a 2nd Classman, from Granger, Indiana
Aaron Brooke, currently a 2nd Classman,from Bremen, Indiana
Chase Cortes, currently a sophomore, from Chicago, Illinois
Lily Gregorash, currently a sophomore from Leiters Ford, Indiana
... with Rick Carpenter in the background intently listening to an answer from Aaron
Dave Gotshall posing a question (Do you think he was a lawyer???)
Lily, Chase, Aaron, and Adam Listening to a Question
Spouse Gathering with Girls Academy
Concurrent with the Class Meeting, the Academy arranged for a Spouse Gathering with staff and students from the Girls Academy. The session was moderated by Pam Christiansen (Director of Planned Giving) and Leann Weatherby (a Culver Fund Officer) from the Academy staff and included 4 students:
Daphne Karahalios, Class of 2020, Lake Forest, IL
Hannah Luo, Class of 2019, Canton, MI
Hannah Brumback, Class of 2017, Culver, IN
Chaeyeong (Ruby) Lee, Class of 2018, South Korea
Regrettably, there are no pictures from the event. However, here are some comments from Sarah O'Reilly:
"…There were four students and two staff present and approximately 20 women in the audience.
"Some of the questions that I remember were on such topics as what a typical day was like, the relationship between the girls and the boys schools, how well they felt Culver had prepared them for college(these girls were all seniors with one Culver girl who boarded during the week and spent weekends with her family and two who boarded with one of those from Korea.) There were questions about what books they had been assigned in their senior year.
"These young women represented Culver well. One girl seemed quite mature while one seemed less so. They spoke about their senior thesis, about the volunteer work they had done, how they felt about uniforms (they liked them). There were no negatives, at least none that they spoke of. One audience member was obviously an English teacher and peppered them with literature questions.
"Almost all the audience was over 50 years old, which I think colors the questions as well as the answers. Too bad no younger ladies attended as I suspect that might have changed the whole thing."
Luncheon in the Lobby of Roberts Hall of Science
The Class Meeting and the Spouse Gathering were followed by Luncheon in the Lobby of the Roberts Hall of Science. While the ladies were back in the auditorium having their group photo taken, the guys hung around in the lobby.
In the foreground: Joe Schluchter, Rene Murai (back of head), Dave Gotshall
But before we exited our Class Meeting, our ladies were hanging around waiting for us.
Sue Trimble (back of head), Cathy Desenberg, Linda Dewey, Karen Kennedy, Emily Baker, Mary Bridges
Bart Hotchkiss, Doug Neumann, Mitch Fry
Starting with the back of Frank Johns' head (in the foreground) and going clockwise: Marian Johns, Kathy & Barry Spitz, Stuart Schram, Rick Carpenter, Paul and Carole Van't Hof
Starting with the back of Craig Kennedy's head (foreground) and going clockwise: Betsy Davis, Carol Wright, Joe & Jacki Schluchter, Malcolm MacQuillian (mostly hidden), Karen Kennedy
Memorial Service
Following lunch, Classmate Reverend Brad Laycock conducted a memorial service for the classmates we have lost since our 50th Reunion. (The weather forced us to hold the service where we ate lunch instead of the planned location of the First Class Ring.) You can view the Program and its elements by clicking on the image of the program cover below.
Brad Laycock
Craig Duchossois with Brad Laycock
Garrison Parade
Based on the weather around mid-day, none of us truly expected the Garrison Parade to actually happen. But, lo and behold, the skies did clear sufficiently, and the parade grounds were not anywhere nearly as saturated as we might have guessed.
Phil Wright, Jim Runnion (background), John Davis, Frank Johns, Paul Van't Hof (background),Barry Spitz, Dep Ewing
L to R: Frank Johns, Barry Spitz, Paul Van't Hof (mostly hidden), Jay Owen (background), Dep Ewing, Howie Bridges (background, profile), Jeff Christie, Raymond Dewey, Lou Desenberg
Stuart Schram, Greg Gazda, Steve Cuthbert, Jim Runnion, Phil Wright (with the Guidon), Frank Johns, Dep Ewing, Barry Spitz
Phil Wright (followed by Jim Runnion and Steve Cuthbert) & John Davis Leading
(Fortunately, no one was really listening to your Class President when, after passing the reviewing stand, he gave the command of "Right Flank, March!" ... when he should have said "Column Right, March!".)
Panorama of the Parade
Officers Front and Center
Horse Holders
A picture of the current Band is included because no one from the Band in our class attended our 55th!
John Davis & Phil Wright Paying Respect to the Colors
Stuart Schram, Bill Boies, Paul Van't Hof Paying Respect to the Colors
Lou Desenberg Paying Respect to the Colors
Can you appreciate how difficult it is to identify someone by their hand???
Reception and Dinner in the Legion Memorial Building
The Legion Memorial Building is what we knew as the Library and (downstairs) the home of the History Department during our days on the shores of Lake Maxinkuckee.
Fortunately, this memorable memorial building was available for our "formal" Class Reception and Dinner.
Today, the main level is used for certain seminars, special presentations (guest lecturers), lots of music recitals (a beautiful baby grand Steinway in there), etc. The Trustees meet in there, too.
Downstairs is all academic advising, college counseling, registrar . . . Upstairs are the offices for the Head of Schools (or known as Superintendent back in our day), the Chief Advancement Officer, the Dean of Faculty, and their support people. On the other side upstairs is the Parents Association, International Advancement, and the Chaplain.
The Reception
The evening began with a reception in the Alumni Lounge.
Emily & Dan Baker, Doug Neumann
Rick Carpenter, Bob & Nannie Sue Sindelar, Craig Duchossois
Stephanie Fohey, Mona & Jay Owen
Marian Johns, Linda Dewey, Greg Gazda
Craig Kennedy, Phil Wright, Joe Schluchter, Bart Hotchkiss
Jacki & Joe Schluchter
Doug Neumann, Sharla & Bart Hotchkiss
Sarah O'Reilly, Judy Calhoun
Betsy Davis
Mary Bridges, Stephanie Fohey, Mona Owen, Margarida Williamson
Dan Baker, Rick Carpenter, Craig Kennedy, Jim Runnion
The Dinner
The evening continued across the Great Hall with dinner in the Heritage Room.
Welcome by John Davis
Our 55th Reunion Chair
Doug Neumann
The Aaron Day Quartet ... plus Doug Neumann
John Davis, Lou & Cathy Desenberg, Judy Calhoun
Buzz Eisenberg, Rene Murai
Sarah O'Reilly, Janet Duchossois
Tricia Fox & Buzz Eisenberg
Mary Lou & Dave Gotshall, Kathy & Tom Westbrook
Sarah Dolza, Kylee Hodil (Dolza's granddaughter), Paul Dolza, Skip & Patti Culver, Craig Duchossois
Cathy Desenberg (back to camera), Dick Trimble, Sue Trimble, Steve Cuthbert, Emily & Dan Baker
Sharla & Bart Hotchkiss, Mike Koether, Mike & Cheryl Ryan
Clockwise from lower left: Craig Kennedy, Tricia Fox & Buzz Eisenberg, Rene Murai, Bill Boies, Tom Norris, Rick Carpenter (mostly with back to camera), Karen Kennedy (back to camera)
Penn (back to camera) & Margarida Williamson, Bill Fohey, Howie Bridges, Jay & Mona Owen, Stephanie Fohey (back to camera)
Marian & Frank Johns, Barry & Kathy Spitz, Dep & Debbie Ewing, Paul & Carole (back to camera) Van't Hof
The Irrepressible Pvt. Koether
Sunday, May 21, 2017
Breakfast at Cafe Max
Starting at about 9 AM, those of us who did not have other commitments headed to a farewell breakfast/brunch at the venerable Cafe Max. While the event was advertised as "no-host", for those who had not yet paid their bills or arrived a bit later, the ever gracious Bill Boies picked up the tabs. Thanks, Bill!!!
L to R: Doug Neumann, Raymond Dewey, Rene Murai, Buzz Eisenberg, Howie Bridges, Linda Dewey, Bill Boies, and Mike Koether
Center (back of his head): Craig Duchossois
L to R: Jeff and Bernadette Christie,Brad Laycock, Phil and Carol Wright (faces mostly hidden)
Center (side of her head): Judy Calhoun (talking to Mary Szymusiak from the Alumni Office)
Craig Duchossois and John Davis ... already starting to plan for our 60th
A Cafe Max specialty: Sinful French Toast
(A fresh baked cinnamon roll with double icing, grilled just until the buttercream icing carmelizes)
Military and Riding Exhibitions
Military and Riding Exhibitions featuring the Culver Honor Guard, Four-Gun Drill, Lancer Band, Lancer Platoon, CGA Drill Team, and CGA Equestriennes started at 12:15 PM. Regrettably, the only pictures received were of the Riding Exhibitions.
The Equestriennes
Lancers Platoon
Lancers Platoon
Acknowledgements
Thanks to the following classmates for contributing images that were used to create this page:
Skip Culver
John Davis
Paul Dolza
Dep Ewing
Brad Laycock
Tom Norris
Jim Runnion
Joe & Jacki Schluchter
Stuart Schram
Bob Sindelar
Tom Westbrook
Phil Wright
In addition, a special thanks to Mo Morales from the Academy staff for our group photos and more.
A Webmaster's Note: Apologies to those classmates ... and their mates ... who are missing from (or "under represented" in) the posted pictures. But I could only work with the images provided. In any case, I hope this web page brings back wonderful memories to those who attended ... and makes you "non-attendees" wish you had been there.
Events like this reunion do not just magically happen. It takes a lot of work by a lot of people. I want to explicitly express my appreciation to classmates Doug Neumann (Reunion Chair), Phil Wright (Reunion Co-Chair), and Craig Duchossois (Past President ... and Godfather to us all) plus the others who endured the series of ever more frequent conference calls leading up to the Reunion. On the Academy side, I give my unbounded gratitude to the Alumni Office ... in particular to Alan Loehr, Amy Davis-Johnson, and Sandy Lewandowski. Thanks to all!
Mark your calendar:
Our 60th Reunion is scheduled for
May 19-22, 2022
50th Reunion <<<====>>> 60th Reunion