2004 Dark Ages Party

2004 Dark Ages Party - Founders Day Celebration a Great Time!

On Saturday evening, February 7, 2004 the fourth annual Atlanta Chapter Dark Ages/Founders Day Party was held at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Marietta. This year’s party was again in celebration of the founding of the United States Naval Academy on October 10, 1845, and in honor of the Brigade of Midshipmen.

On that date, through the efforts of then Secretary of the Navy George Bancroft, the “Naval School” was established on a 10-acre tract of land that was previously an Army base named Fort Severn. Just seven professors and 50 Midshipmen comprised the entire faculty and student body. Today the Brigade is over 4,000 strong with an academic staff of nearly 600.

The party was a formal, black tie optional, event for Atlanta Chapter members only. The catered five-course meal was absolutely the best, from the appetizer to the main course to the dessert. The majority of the men arrived dressed in tuxedos, with their escorted ladies in equally formal attire. It was a great looking room full of alumni, spouses, and dates! Hey, we clean up pretty well!

After dinner Chapter President Bill Rentz ’55, addressed the crowd and reminded us of the purpose of our gathering. He then introduced our guest of honor for the event, George P. Watt, President and CEO of the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association.

George covered a number of topics on the subject of the Brigade of Midshipmen and the support thereof. That support is provided by what George calls the “extended Brigade”, which is the combined “family” of the Alumni Association, the Chapter organizations, the Class organizations, and Parents Clubs throughout the country. George was delighted to report that they had just surpassed the 175 million-dollar private fund-raising goal to support the Brigade in the pursuit of excellence in athletics, scholastics, ethics, and leadership. George also told of the efforts to rebuild and recover from the 80 million dollars in damage that the Naval Academy sustained in the wake of hurricane Isabel.

Alumni present at the event represented a seven decade span of classes. The junior alumnus in attendance was Kary Brownlee, class of 1993. The senior alumnus in attendance was CAPT George O’Connell, USN (retired), class of 1935! Upholding the finest tradition of a former Midshipman and Naval Officer by never showing up unescorted, George was escorting Ms. Aline Cofield for the evening. The senior couple led the way by getting out on the dance floor and getting the after-dinner party started.

What a night! What a party! What a terrific group of people! In attendance at the event were:

Jan & Jon Barton ’66, Jody & Paul Borer ’70, Kary Brownlee ’93, Dee & Art Butler ’61, Ann & Stewart ’65, Marilyn & Joe Frazar ’65, Karen & Steve Frederick ‘72, William Hastie ’60, Lynn & Jim Hatch ’47, Helena & Mike Herger ’90, Nancy & Paul Hurst ’62, Muriel & Ed Hux ’61, Francis Jones, Rhonda & Glenn Klein ’73, Thallia & Mario Maddox ’85, Marilyn & Carl McCallum ’60, Mary ’87 & Terry ’86 McElroy, Dolores & Mike Miller ’56, Barbara & Lorie Moore ’64, George O'Connell ’35 & Ms. Aline Cofield, Michelle & Brian Pilger ’93, Amy & Phil Polefrone ’74, Carol Sue & Jim Ravenel ’45, Susan & Bill Rentz ’55, Joan & Winston Rorabaugh ’70, Carole & Mitch Rowland ’71, Linda & Robert Schultz ’71, Nick Ward ’74 & Jean Jacobs, Sharon & Lee Whitfield ’71, Catherine & Will Wood ’66, Steve Maconi (USNA Foundation Trust), Peggy & George Watt ’73 (President & CEO USNA Alumni Association).

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Carl McCallum '60, sneaks up on the ladies!	Jim Hatch '47, babe magnet again!
Fredericks & Rentz's	Nancy Hurst, George O'Connell '35, his date Aline Cofield, and Karen Frederick.
George & Aline start the after dinner dancing!	More dancers join in.
The girls dance!	Their guys watch!
What can you say about this? Go Bob!?!	Helena & Mike Herger '90, looking good on the dance floor!
Mitch Rowland '71 finally hits the dance floor!	Stewarts and Rowlands.
Paul & Nancy Hurst '62.	Hursts & Bartons.
The Hurst table.	The Hux table.
The Ravenel table.	The Maddox table.
The Schultz table.	The Miller table.
The Stewart table.	George & Peggy Watt, Aline Cofield and George O,Connell '35.
The "Three Amigos": Linda, Helena, and Sue.	Cobb Galleria Centre Marquee with "USNA Founders Day"!
Jan and Jon Barton '66 and Catherine Wood.	Ms. Aline Cofield and her escort, George O'Connell '35.
Mike Herger '90 with Michelle & Brian Pilger ’93	Jim and Lynn Hatch.
Thallia & Mario Maddox ’85	Mary McElroy '87 and Carol Sue Ravenel.
George Watt with four Atlanta Chapter Board of Director members.	Sue & Bill Rentz '55 posed Prom picture.
Lynn & Jim Hatch '47 posed Prom picture.	Carol Sue & Jim Ravenel '45 posed Prom picture.
Lynn & Jim Hatch '47 posed Prom picture - take two.	Carol Sue & Jim Ravenel '45 posed Prom picture - take two.
Marilyn & Carl McCallum '60 posed Prom picture.	Peggy & George Watt '73 posed Prom picture.
Michelle & Brian Pilger ’93 posed Prom picture.	Marilyn & Joe Frazar ’65 posed Prom picture.
Sharon & Lee Whitfield '71 posed Prom picture.	Barbara & Lorie Moore '64 posed Prom picture.
Helena & Mike Herger '90 posed Prom picture.	Carole & Mitch Rowland '71 posed Prom picture.
Jean Jacobs & Nick Ward '74 posed Prom picture.	Nancy & Paul Hurst '62 posed Prom picture.
Jody & Paul Borer '70 posed Prom picture.	Karen & Steve Frederick '72 posed Prom picture.
Chapter President Bill Rentz '55 and President and CEO USNA Alumni Association George Watt '73	Mary ’87 & Terry ’86 McElroy posed Prom picture.