2005 Dark Ages Party

2005 Dark Ages Party A Great Time!

On Saturday evening, February 26, the fifth annual Atlanta Chapter Dark Ages/Founders Day Party was held at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Marietta. This yearТs 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 УNaval SchoolФ 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 meal was 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 friends!

Our guest of honor was VADM Rodney P. Rempt, USN (Class of Т66) Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, accompanied by his wife Pam.

Chapter President Bill Rentz Т55, started the evening with some opening remarks and an introduction of VADM Rempt. This was not without considerable angst, since Bill managed to misplace the notebook that contained his speaking notes until just prior to the time for him to make his opening remarks! Sue Rentz saved the day and found the errant notebook sitting atop their car out in the parking lot! Another Navy wife to the rescue!

VADM Rempt started his presentation with a short video of the current goings-on at the Academy. It was an inspirational piece that met with a closing round of applause from those in attendance. Not wanting to embarrass anyone in the audience VADM Rempt next recited the USNA mission statement, highlighting the portions regarding developing Midshipmen Уmorally, mentally, and physicallyФЕ Уin order to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship, and government.Ф

The subsequent portion of his presentation was spent outlining the specifics of the curriculum, activities, and events at the Naval Academy that are expressly designed to develop Midshipmen in those three areas. From VADM RemptТs detailed summary, it is clear that the Naval Academy is still a premier learning institution and the finest institution for developing future leaders for our nation. One impressive honor is that we are now rated as having the number four engineering curriculum in the country.

A question and answer period followed the main presentation. VADM Rempt fielded a broad array of questions including his perspective on the war on terrorism and how it affects the Naval Academy, the Navy, and all those who presently serve. He also provided a detailed summary of the clean up and rebuilding efforts in the wake of hurricane Isabelle last September. Over $80 million dollars had to be spent on the recovery efforts. There are now plans in the works to build a ten foot high berm around the periphery of the Academy to prevent such large scale damage from resulting should any future hurricanes decide to head to Annapolis.

Dancing followed dinner, with music provided by the Russ Starrett Trio. The usual suspects appeared on the dance floor! Seems that we have a repeat group of hard-corps, stay-late, party-hardy, dance-Сtil-you-drop, alumni!

Alumni in attendance represented a span of seven decades of graduating classes! Senior Chapter member George OТConnell, CAPT. USN (Ret), Class of 1935 attended with his date Ms. Aline Cofield. Unfortunately, George had taken a fall earlier this year and was wearing two black eyes as evidence of the mishap. However, upholding the finest of Navy tradition he carried on and represented the Chapter as our SOPA. Our junior Chapter member present was Cindy Miller Т90, just edging out her husband Kurt Miller Т88. George and Cindy both received a bottle of Naval Academy Signature wine in recognition. Cheers!

A highlight of the evening, perhaps missed by those who left early, was the arrival of our Commander-In-Chief, President George W. Bush, for a rare photo opportunity! As you can see by some of the digital pictures below, he was the hit of the party. He seemed just a bit stiff though, and not prone to much discussion. Oh well, he is a conservative after all.

Many thanks to Karen and Steve Frederick С72, for organizing this event for us again this year. Great party, great company, and a good time had by all!

In attendance (alphabetically by last name) were:

Helen & Bruce Abel, Jan & Jon Barton Т66, Mary Jane & Sterling Bennett Т66, Gina & Neil Block Т61, Jody & Paul Borer Т70, Dee & Art Butler Т61, Ann & Stewart Caldwell Т65, Patricia & VADM Ron Eytchison Т58, Karen & Steve Frederick Т72, Nancy & Skip Gunthor Т65, Lillian & James Hatch Т47, Nate Herman, Rhonda & Ronald Hertwig Т77, Nancy & PaulHurst Т62, Fern Johnson, Rhonda & Glenn Klein Т73, Susan & Pete Knoetgen Т77, Lynee & William Lewis Т70, Marilyn & Carl McCallum Т60, Cindy Miller Т90 & Curt Miller Т88, Barbara & Lorie Moore Т64, Sandy & Sam Newton Т69, Aline Coffield escorted by George O'Connell Т35, Lissa & Tim Phillips Т89, Colby Rankin, Carol Sue & Jim Ravenel Т45, Pam & VADM Rodney Rempt Т66, Susan & Bill Rentz Т55, Linda & Robert Schultz Т71, Linda & Ed Smith Т72, Mary Eleanor & Reggie Vachon Т58, Nick Ward Т74 with fiancщe Jean Jacob, Carol & Bill Williams Т65, Martha & Rich Wilson Т64, Catherine & Will Wood Т66, and Christine & Mark Woodhouse С83.

Click on a thumbnail image to view a full sized picture.

The crowd gathers outside ballroom A.	VADM Rempt starts his presentation.
The Hatch table. (Hey, is that a PDA violation on the Borers?!)	The Class of 66 table.
The Rempt table.	The Miller table.
The O'Connell table.	The Moore table.
The Smith table.	The Schultz table.
Jim Hatch '47 - babe magnet, the ladies gather!	Jim Hatch '47 - babe magnet, caught a half-dozen!
Bennetts '66 & Bartons '66	Chapter President Bill Rentz '55 presents Pam & VADM Rempt with Atlanta Chapter Aprons.
Kleins '73 & Smiths '72	Millers (Curt '88 & Cindy '90) & Carol Sue Ravenel.
Rempts '66 & Rentz '55	Woodhouses '83, Martha Wilson, & Newtons '69.
Class of '66 picture! (Wood, Bennett, Rempt, & Barton.)	Class of '65. (Williams & Gunthors)
Nancy & Paul Hurst '62	Carol Sue & Jim Ravenel '45
Nick Ward '74 & Jean Jacob	Marilyn & Carl McCallum '60
Dee & Art Butler '61	Linda & Bob Schultz '71
Carol Sue & Jim Ravenel '45, "Prom Picture"	Sue & Bill Rentz '55 & Fern Johnson, Sue's Mom
Marilyn & Carl McCallum '60, "Prom Picture"	Marilyn & Carl McCallum '60, "Prom Picture -2"
Linda & Bob Schultz '71, "Prom Picture"	Lynn & Jim Hatch '47, "Prom Picture"
Dancers! (Hey Art, where's Dee?)	More Dancers!
Abels with George W.	Butlers with George W.
Neil Block '61 & Paul Hurst '62 with George W.	Jim Hatch '47 & his babes with George W.
Marilyn McCallum & Bruce Abel with George W.	Karen Frederick with George W.
Linda Schultz with George W.	Moores with George W.