On FEB 26th, the Tampa Chapter met at LeRoy Collins' '56 house for a great Dinner with George Watt '73, CEO, National Alumni President!
Wow - what a great evening!
Thanks to Jane & Roy Collins '56 for opening up their house to our group. Hopefully we did not eat AND drink them out of house and home!
30 folks in attendance overall. Roy Collins '56 discussed his role in all of this for a bit, and introduced H.L. Culbreath '45, who told a great sea story about when he was at Camp David and had to be the "messenger" for an important message for President Eisenhower. Great mingling of all folks, and then George Watt, CEO, National USNA Alumni President gave his remarks to the group. John Knapp '68 was able to take some pictures that I posted on the website. The evening then ended with John Kamen '77 presenting a shirt to George on behalf of the Tampa Chapter!
Some of George's remarks are below - sorry they are so cryptic (not his speaking but my note taking!)
Steve Swift '87 - not posing!?
George Watt receiving shirt from John Kamen, LeRoy Collins, host, in background
HL Culbreath '45 telling sea story
Lillian & Tom Dabney and HL Culbreath - looks like Tom said He did it!
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He announced Tampa as one of the Other Tampa Chapters. LeRoy Collins '56 will represent the Chapter as one of 3 other trustees on the national board, and will sit with the 9 largest trustee members, as well as one trustee from each of the decades and a few regional trustees.
He discussed Service Selection night, and how he had each of the 6 battalions over to the alumni house. There were ~ 1300 plebes that started in the class of '03. 1002 graduate, first since at least '93 that there will be over 1000 graduates. 1180 new plebes are coming in with the class of '07. The class of '03 is very combatant. For Service Selection - only 16 2/3% by law can go USMC. That is 166, and with 200 choosing, 34 had to be turned away. Out of only allowing 480 aviators, 100 were turned away. For seals - 16 were allowed and 16 were turned away. All of this will be in an upcoming Shipmate. However the fleet will be in good shape and these new alumni are very patriotically heading to the front line jobs!
He mentioned that Tampa's own, Terry Silva '73 - graduated 880 - last man in the class. (although I have it from a "very" good source that Terry might have been 867 and not 880)
He discussed how each class has a sponsor class of 50 years behind them. For '06 - they were sponsored by '56, and Roy was able to join them up in Annapolis a few months ago in that ceremony.
VAdm Nick Nauton '68 is the current Supe! Classmate of John Knapp '68. Col John Allen '76 is the current Commandant. He is a 1 star select, and will be the first Marine General Officer assigned to the Academy, and is the first Marine Commandant of Midshipman. Bill Miller '62 is the Dean, so the Academy leadership is in good hands. (Don Coughlin's classmate '62)
George's mission is the Alumni and support of the Naval Academy. He is a huge advocate of USNA. It is all about Informed Advocacy!
He is happy to see the Candidate Awareness Rep (CAR) program working. Stanley Gray '77 is our local CAR.
Question about USNA Graduates - are they USNR only? Yes - that started in '95-96 class. Being revisited quietly.
Question about nukes - with all the "front-line" jobs being sought after, are the nukes getting what they need? Adm Skip Bowman said that for this year, things were fine, however have been a little short in the past few years. 91% received their first choice this year, and another 5% received their second choice. Only 5 in medical this year due to overall needs.
Question about Football in Tampa from Bud Alexander '56. Now that the decision for future Army-Navy games is for Philadelphia or other places close to Annapolis - what are the odds of Tampa getting the Notre Dame game? Answer: Good thought - maybe we should have Coach Paul Johnson come down here. Also - Baseball and Basketball are possibilities, however basketball is tougher due to their schedule.
Attendees included:
John Kamen '77, Jerry O'Connell '56, Steve Swift '87, Mac Fossett '58, Hugh Palmer '58, Janette & John Knapp '68, Joe Wiendl '93, Don Coughlin '62, Bud Alexander '56, Val & Gary Polansky '69, Carrie Dyer '82, Jane and RAdm LeRoy Collins '56, Doug Berry '69, Susan & Stanley Gray '77, Alton Delane '91, Donna & Mike Jacqmin '63, Valerie & Jerry Stanley '65, Lillian & Tom Dabney '36, Betty and H.L. Culbreath '45, Tony Iuculano '89, George Watt '73 (Guest Speaker), Christy Cole (Assistant Director, USNA Foundation)
