CheckPoints

Next I got an e-mail from Jim PUTNAM (Linda) reporting on things in his world since retiring from active duty service as the OC-ALC Inspector General at Tinker AFB, OK back in Dec 99. Starting right away with little break in the action, he went to work for Northrop Grumman on the B-2 program, including some time working logistics issues for the F/A-18 program at their EI Segundo, CA factory. Then once the security clearances came through, he was reassigned to the historic Palmdale AF Plant 42, now the B-2 factory, learning all aspects of the B-2 logistics business. (Possibly by now he will have been able to rejoin the family, working out of company offices in Edmond, OK at the Tinker facility along with about 120 Northrop folks.) Jim mentions that Tom MILLER (Lynn) is also retired and living in Greeley, CO as well as at Silverthorne, CO close to the skiing.

Craig WESTON (Doris) is now a MGEN in the Pentagon toiling away as PEO for black (or least fairly dark) programs, living back in their house in Centreville, VA. Appreciate the brief update, Jim! Gary GRANT (Clarita) writes from Kirtland AFB, NM where he is currently the Vice Commander of the Air Force Inspection Agency, wrap- ping up his 30 years in Spring 02 and then looking for something else to do in the Albuquerque area. With daughters Jamie and Samantha settled in on the school front, and wife, Clarita, having grown fond of the southwest, he will likely prefer to send out the resumes in that area Gary relates a short anecdote involving the renowned BGEN (Ret) Robin Olds, known to all of us during our Academy days as Commandant of Cadets -- still driving hard and going strong at almost 80 years young. He spoke at the AFIA Safety Center about leadership, marveling the troops with stories that we may not even have heard as cadets. The afternoon ceremony was then followed by a reception and partying well into the night, with General Olds never missing a beat. Even after all these years, Gary says, the contact with such a great man reaffirmed the great respect that must exist for the legacy he has created. Lastly, Gary asks, does anyone know where Barry SMITH is? Thank you for sending the news, Gary.

Next to be delivered was the Christmas letter from Ed BISHOP (Shelley) with bits and pieces on the family and other related news. The two of them are getting heavy into the mountain bike scene, and Ed even sports the appropriate safety gear as he has now proven that old guys should not always be trying young guy things!

Son Blair had a chance to join the Bishops early in the year for a nice trip to New Orleans, seeing all the traditional sites as well as one new one on their list the D-Day Museum very highly recommended by both Shelley and Ed. Both are also still involved with the AF BEE (bio-environmental engineering) community, what with speaking engagements and assorted conferences making them have to travel to exotic destinations throughout the year. Ed now works a lot within the Fairfax office of Parsons, and has also been busy with the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Toxicology, again dealing with the travels and conference scene that results. Sounds like a lot for supposedly retired folks... but they will not likely stop any time soon and next year's Christmas letter will probably need to be lengthened! Thanks, guys for tile good stuff!

Last to arrive in the mail was another good Christmas letter, this time from Dave McLAUGHLIN (Catherine) writing from their new townhouse in beautiful Bozeman, MT. Dave is teaching Public Communication at Montana State University, working in his eighth year there on an adjunct status with a year-to-year contract. Claims to be enjoying the environs of Bozeman, reminiscent of C-Springs in the old days, like when we were there back in '68 to '72... They live about 90 minutes from either entrance to Yellowstone, with great local skiing at Bridger Bowl and Big Sky. Dave reports on several "pilot types" and some other classmates as well. Bob REILMAN is with Skywest out of Denver. Tom Brumlik flies out of Atlanta (yet) with Delta. Jim STETTLER (Karen) is still at Fed Ex based in Memphis, and has a son flying for Piedmont. Bruce (Puissegur) ABEL (Linda) has returned to the D.C. area from Hawaii, actually living in Crofton, MD looking at a second career (consulting?) as a retired AF lawyer.

John ALLISON (Julia) works in metallurgy with Ford and is still in Ann Arbor, MI. Mark EWING (Joanne) still lives in Lawrence, KS and continues to teach Mechanical Engineering at Kansas University. Pat GARVEY (Jane) is retired now from the AF and works in business development for Boeing in the D.C. area. Ed MILLER (Diane) has now moved to Copley, OH to become "Executive Director of the Rubber Division of the American Chemical Society". Dave also reports that Ed's wife, Diane, was one of the cadets at New York's RPI where he had taught AFROTC in '79-'82, meeting Ed a few years later. Greg RIGGS (Jan) retired to Austin, TX looking (not too hard?) for another job... Jeff SILIB (Moira) still lives in the Ft. Worth area apparently still writing software for Lockheed. Mike BORYSEWICZ (Laurie) joined American Airlines after a career with TWA, flying out of St. Louis, MO as a result of that merger.

Mike is one of two godfathers of Dave and Catherine's kids. (Tom BRUMUK is the other.) On the McLaughlin 2001 Downsized Christmas Letter, there was a great comparison on the changes that have come into their lives since making the big move from the "Wagon Boss house" to the new townhouse in Bozeman. There are lots of references to family issues that have seen a big change, as well as to some things that remain the same. One of them was the fact that AF beat NAVY: (again) in the football arena (the fact that Dave's twin brother Steve is a '72 USNA grad makes that win extra special for Dave). There were many other items to ponder as the year 2001 wound down, giving way to the uncertain beginnings of 2002. Thanks for an informative news update, Dave!

Another note came from the office at the AOG reporting the plans for the upcoming reunion of our class, scheduled for 16-21 Oct 2002. If you do not remember the letter from Reunion Committee Chairman Ralph ALLEN, things will be focused around the Antlers Adam's Mark Hotel in downtown C-Springs. A great match-up is promised in the football game against Notre Dame. There is never enough time to get things of this magnitude planned as well as executed, so your help is requested and greatly appreciated.

And lastly, as it relates to the above note about reunion activities, by now many of you already know of the recent loss of our beloved class- mate, Charlie HARRINGTON (Sheila) to pancreatic cancer. Charlie was the original volunteer to take on the planning duties of the reunion shortly after the last one finished in October '97, and was making great strides to get things underway for this one when he was struck with the devastating disease which ultimately took him from us all. Of course, all our best goes out to Sheila and the rest of the Harrington family as they attempt to cope with their very personal loss. We shall all miss a very dear friend and comrade in arms. God bless you, Charlie.

Well class, that is all there is for this issue. Please continue to write when you can. Thank you again to each of the contributors to this edition -your input makes the column!