The official message board of the University of Texas NROTC Alumni Foundation

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Volume 17, Issue 2 July 2012

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www.utnrotcalum.org

CCoommee ttoo tthhee 22001122 RReeuunniioonn PPaarrttyy!!

Come join the fun at this year’s Annual Reunion, our 26th! Stay tuned to all the up-to-the-minute plans on our website,www.utnrotcalum.org. All events will be centered around the October 20, 2012 General Business meeting andscholarship awards ceremony. That’s on the Saturday of the Baylor game. We’ve invited some special guests to join us.

One such guest is ADM William H. “Bill” McRaven, Class of 1977, who will be traveling back to UT this year toreceive the Distinguished Alumnus Award from our two alumni foundations. He received this award last year but couldnot attend due to other pressing obligations. In addition, the Texas Exes will be also recognizing ADM McRaven as aDistinguished Alumnus on that same weekend. Before these two awards are bestowed on him, ADM McRaven will bekicking off the weekend activities at the Navy League’s distinguished speaker program and dinner on Thursday night.This year we have again coordinated with the Navy League to combine their special speaker dinner with our annualreunion activities. Be sure you make your reservations (see Page 4). We’re hopeful that, with all the scheduled activitieswe and UT have planned for him, Bill and his wife, Georgeann, will still have some time to relax and enjoy some of ourother reunion activities.

Come see who our other special guests will be. We have a golf outing planned on Friday morning. Make a reservation(see Page 4) and come out to represent either Navy or the Marine Corps in a friendly little competition.

As usual our Saturday activities are flexible until the time of the football game is set. Generally all activities will occurbefore the game unless game time is before noon. With an early football game only the BBQ moves to a post-game timeslot. Again, check the website for changes. The unit is scheduled to move into their new building in November orDecember of this year, so we will have tours of the new spaces scheduled for our reunion attendees sometime onSaturday.

Get your reservations in early so timely planning can occur. There are deadlines on the hotel, Navy League dinner,BBQ, and Friday night awards dinner. And there is limited availability of parking tags, tee times, football tickets and thehotel rooms. So get your reservations in soon. We hope to see everyone there!

Bill & Georgeann at 2010 Reunion

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Alumni Foundation Officers Raymond J. “Ray” Adams (1980)

President James D. Brotherton (1968)

Vice President David Wells (1969)

Secretary Dan O’Neil (1980)

Treasurer Edwin W. “Ed” Mergele (1975)

Editor/Publisher/Webmaster James D. Brotherton (1968)

Historian

Alumni Foundation Board of Directors

Raymond J. “Ray” Adams (1980) James D. Brotherton (1968)

W. Robert Brown (1952) Douglas F. “Doug” Fisher (1970)

Luis de la Garza (1966) James N. “Jim” Higdon (1967)

Kevin H. Hugman (1980) R. Glenn Looney (1961)

Edwin W. “Ed” Mergele (1975) Fred Moon (1970) Dan O’Neil (1980)

Spencer Smith (1973) Michael L. “Mike” Waldron (1967) Richard B. “Dick” Wellborn (1970)

David Wells (1969)

Ex-Officio Members CAPT John G. Eden, USN Professor of Naval Science

Jack F. Ritter (1955) Navy League Liaison

Regional Directors Ray Adams (1980)

DFW (H) 972-596-7188 Rodney C. "Rod" Koenig (1962)

Houston (H) 713-667-9566 Rudy Kruger (1963)

Central (H) 402-331-6557 Robert Hancock (1967) West (H) 858-586-0036 Henry Harper (1965)

Mountain (H) 208-522-7776 K. J. Moore (1964)

Eastern (H) 703-759-3327

Midshipmans Foundation Directors

W. Robert Brown (1952) Robert L. Gartner (1965) John Hitchcock (1965)

J. Weldon Koenig (1958) Max Miller (1957) Dan O’Neil (1980)

Jack F. Ritter (1955) Gabriel R. Salazar (1979)

Charles W. “Charlie” Simons (1963) David Wells (1969)

Midshipmans Foundation Advisory Directors

Jefferson D. Howell (1961) Donald S. Inbody

Jack F. Ritter (1955) Spencer H. “Spence” Smith (1973)

James M. “Mike” Spence

Chairman, Gifts Committee W. Robert Brown (1952)

Printing of the UT NROTC Alumni Log generously donated

By Raytheon Company McKinney, Texas

Volume 17, Issue 2 July 2012

President’s Corner Ray Adams ’80

It is my great honor and pleasure to assume the conn from MikeWaldron. Mike has served this great organization with distinction overthese last few years and I only hope that I can continue to provide thatsame level of performance. The Alumni Foundation has come a longway in just the past few years and many midshipmen and officercandidates have benefited from your participation and generosity.

Over our unit’s 72 year history, we have had many distinguished alumni come throughthe UT NROTC program. Both of your alumni foundations have been able to bring thisto the attention of our midshipmen each year to give them a sense of belonging to anorganization that extends beyond their years here at UT. It is important that ourorganization continue to grow if we are to be a viable partner to the NROTC Unit andthe Battalion. To build on our past successes and achieve that goal, I have identifiedthree areas that we should focus on.

As time marches on we need to keep shifting our targeting of active members onmore current year groups. I’m looking to those in year groups 1975 to present to step upto the plate and get more engaged in this organization’s activities. Step up yourinvolvement and call your classmates to get them involved as well.

Secondly, we raise funds for just a few reasons: to provide seed money in order tohost an annual reunion (ideally this is a break-even event), to financially help theBattalion with some of their group activities each year, and to communicate with alumni(newsletter, directory, website and other mailings). We have converted our organizationto a non-profit one so that our donations can be tax-deductible each year. Pleaseconsider making a donation to the Alumni Foundation each year when you are alsomaking your annual donation to the Midshipmans Foundation to support scholarships.

Lastly, I invite you to consider volunteering for a leadership position in the AlumniFoundation. All our board meetings are open for you to attend. They are scheduled wellin advance and posted on our website calendar. There are many areas where we coulduse your help. We need your fresh ideas and energy. It’s time to “relieve the watch”.

Our reunion is just around the corner. Though some memories may fade, we will never forget the friends we made while we were here. I hope you can find one or two of your old friends and invite them to the reunion in October. I know I will.

News from the Midshipmans Foundation Max Miller ’57 Weldon Koenig ’58

First, I would like everyone to know that we have selected two more UT NROTC Alumni for the Distinguished Alumnus Award, which will be presented to them on Friday night of our annual Reunion weekend. Also, plans are to present ADM Bill McRaven his Distinguished Alumnus Award at the

Reunion. He will also be honored that weekend by the University of Texas as one of their Outstanding Texas Exes.

Second, members of RADM Clay Fulcher’s family have contributed more thanadequate funds to endow, in perpetuity, a scholarship given in Clay’s name. This justhappened.

Third, we are still seeking funds to raise the RADM Robert M. Moore Scholarshipup to $50,000 so that we can give either two $1,000 scholarships or one $2,000scholarship. If you make a donation for this, please mark your check in the memo fieldfor this fund.

Your generosity has been splendid and our endowment has reached a level wherewe are able to positively affect the lives of so many midshipmen and officer candidateseach year. We hope to continue that success and ask that you consider making anothercontribution this year. Your Foundation will meet later this summer to make future plans Continued on Page 3

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Volume 17, Issue 2 July 2012

UT NROTC ALUMNI FOUNDATION OPERATING FUND

INCOME AND EXPENSE STATEMENT (AS OF 06/02/2012)

BEGINNING BALANCE (02/25/12) ........................................................ $15,808.77 INCOME:

Member Checks (Operating Fund FY12) ........................... $350.00 TOTAL INCOME ....................................................................... $350.00 EXPENSES: Newsletter/Post Card Mailing ............................................ $404.26 Retirement Gift .................................................................. $412.00 TOTAL EXPENSES .......................................................................... $816.26 CURRENT BALANCE .............................................................................. $15,342.51 CURRENT LIABILITIES: Mailings (Est) ..................................................................... $500.00 TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES ........................................... $500.00 CURRENT BALANCE ............................................................................. $14,842.51

LESS ENCUMBERED FUNDS: Life Sponsorships .......................................................... $10,500.00 AVAILABLE FUNDS (for Reunion & Battalion Assistance) ................... $4,342.51 NOTE: Life Sponsorship money is to be invested in a manner similar to the Midshipmans Foundation’s Endowment Fund in order to provide a “corpus” for the UT NROTC Alumni Foundation. Earnings from this corpus will be used as the board sees fit to provide seed money for the Reunion each year and provide whatever assistance it can to the Battalion.

News from the MidshipmansFoundation continued fromPage 2…

and a contribution before then would help in that effort. As you may know, earlier this year we added two new directors, David Wells ’69 and Charlie Simons ’63. They have been tasked to review some of our current procedures and make recommendations for improvements. We will also be making plans for future fundraising and Board succession. Any inputs from you are always welcome.

Hook ’em!

Donation Form for UTNROTC Alumni Foundation Battalion-Reunion Sponsors Fund

Name: ____________________________________________________________ Commissioning Class:

Mailing Address: ____________________________________________________ City:

State: Zip: Email:

Phone Nos. Home: Work: Fax:

As a Sponsor of Battalion Activities and the Annual Reunion, please accept my tax-deductible donation for 2012

(check one): � Burnt Orange Level: $25 Make checks payable to: UT NROTC Alumni Foundation

� Blue/Scarlet Level: $75 and Mail to: P.O. Box 143562

� Gold Level: $150 Austin, TX 78714-3562

� Lifetime (60+): $500

� Lifetime (Under 60): $1,000

� Other (fill in amount): $

If your company offers matching gifts to non-profit organizations don’t forget to ask them and alert them before making

a contribution to us. Contact Dan O’Neil if the matching process is more complicated. Donations will be acknowledged,

in writing, annually.

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Volume 17, Issue 2 July 2012

2012 UT NROTC Alumni Foundation Reunion Activities Hotel Accommodations. Rooms will be available for Reunion attendees at the Embassy Suites Hotel - Austin Central, 5901 N. IH-35, Austin TX 78723, 512-454-8004. We reserved a block of rooms at a special group rate which expires September 28th or whenever the rooms are all spoken for so make your reservations soon. For reservations go to the special booking website (see below) for our Reunion Weekend, or call the special group reservation number 800-729-5711 and use the group code “NRO” to get the discounted rate, or call 800-362-2779 and tellthem the hotel name, and group name "UT NROTC 2012 Alumni Reunion". The group rate is even less than last year,$139 per night plus 15% tax for 1-2 adults in a king suite or 2-doubles suite. Check the multiple amenities via the hotelwebsite (see below) or the special group reservation site (indoor heated pool, complimentary hot breakfast and manager’sreception daily). Special Booking Website: http://embassysuites.hilton.com/en/es/groups/personalized/A/AUSCLES-NRO-20121018/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG Hotel Website: http://www.reservationcounter.com/hotels/show/113560/embassy-suites-austin-central

Thursday 18 October Navy League Dinner and Program. The Greater Austin Council will kick off the 2012 reunion weekend with a dinner and distinguished speaker program on Thursday, 18 October 2012. This is the Council's signature event each year as it honors The University of Texas NROTC midshipmen, officer candidates, staff, and alumni. Admiral William H. “Bill” McRaven, USN, Commander, U. S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), headquartered at MacDill AFB, FL, will keynote the week's activities as the Council's Distinguished Speaker and Guest of Honor. Following custom, he is an alumnus of the University of Texas, NROTC Midshipman and 1977 graduate.

The meeting will be held at the Austin Woman’s Club (1st Floor) located at the corner of San Antonio and 8thStreet. Access to the entrance and parking area is from the rear on Nueces Street between 7th & 8th Streets. Parking isfree-ignore the signs. Social hour begins at 1815; Dinner is at 1915; Program begins at 2015; Adjourn at 2115. All NavyLeague meetings are open to the public. Your family and friends are all welcome. Reservations are required by Tuesday,16 October 2012 (may pay at the door $30 per person for members and their guests, $20 per person for military in uniformand their guests). For more information call Glenn Looney at 512-327-7413 or email him at rglennl@alumni.utexas.net.To make reservations, directly contact Lu Ann Reyes at luann@luannreyes.com or call her at 512-203-4399.

Friday 19 October Golf Outing. For those of you interested in a reunion Golf outing we will be gathering at Star Ranch on Friday October 19th in the morning. Currently we have a promise from Star Ranch for 4 tee times (16 players), starting at 0800. We can get more, if there is more interest. Please indicate your desire to participate on the Reunion Registration Form (Page 6). As in previous encounters we will face off Navy versus Marine Corps. The Star Ranch offers both a Breakfast Buffet and a Lunch Buffet as part of the greens fee. Star Ranch is located at 2500 FM 685 inHutto, Texas (NE Austin just north of the new toll road 45 East). The cost of greens fee/cart/range balls/and two buffets is$45. We will pay when we get there. Notify Jim Brotherton if you are interested in playing. Home Phone: 512-394-9381or cell 512-632-4206 or email jdbrotherton@att.net. Directions to Star Ranch from Austin: Take IH 35 North exit Louis Henna Blvd (Toll 45/Loop 1) Travel 1.4 miles on access road to Toll Road 45 East Travel approx. 2.7 miles and take 130 North Exit Gattis School Road/685 North Travel approx. 1 mile North on FM685 and turn left at second stop light Go 0.6 miles South on FM 685 and Star Ranch will be on your right.

UT NROTC Alumni Dinner. This year’s UT NROTC Alumni Dinner will be held at the Austin Country Club (ACC)honoring two Distinguished Alumni. Cocktails will start at 1830, followed by dinner at 1900. The tentative cost is $45, butis subject to change. Dress will be “business casual” (i.e. sport coat or dress shirt/slacks). Directions: Go one mile south ofthe Loop 360 bridge over Lake Austin and take Westlake Drive east. Go about 200 meters and turn left onto Long ChampDrive and go to 4408 at the end. Call 512-328-0090 if you get lost.

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Volume 17, Issue 2 July 2012

Informal Gathering. All year-group class members may also gather at Scholz Garten (1607 San Jacinto) at 1900 on Friday night for socializing. Be prepared to contact others to make plans to meet at an alternate location if Scholz’s ends up being reserved for a private party. Telephone for Scholz Garten is 512-474-1958. Saturday 20 October Saturday’s Schedule. Having our annual Reunion on a game day weekend is a mixed blessing. We do this because it typically draws more people to town, especially if Texas is doing well. The downside is that it makes planning for Saturday’s activities more difficult. There have typically been three different timesat which a football game would start: 11 a.m., 2-3 p.m., or 6-7 p.m. Normally if the game is an early game (e.g. 11am), wewould have our board and general business meetings, along with our scholarship awards ceremony in the morning beforethe game, and try to plan a tailgate lunch (time permitting) afterward before people head to the game. We would then havethe BBQ in the early evening sometime after the game, probably still on campus. The other two scenarios (e.g. 2:30pmand 6:30pm) would have all our activities, including the BBQ, before the game with the BBQ on campus. Stay flexibleand keep watch on our website for any last minute changes. Parking on Campus. Last year we were able to get 20 parking spaces along Speedway, reserved on game day for $15apiece. We’re hopeful we can get that many again this year, perhaps more, and at the same price. Please indicate yourdesire to have one of these spaces on the Reunion Registration Form (Page 6). First come, first served. Board of Directors Meeting. The UT NROTC Alumni Foundation board will hold their quarterly meeting in Robert A.Welch Hall before the General Business Meeting. Alumni Reunion General Business Meeting & Scholarship Awards Ceremony. Location will be in the Robert A.Welch Hall like last year, probably Room 2.246. The morning business meeting and scholarship awards ceremony is themain reunion event and it will provide an opportunity to learn all about the latest unit activities, plans, and achievements.You will also see the award of multiple scholarships and officer swords to Midshipmen and Officer Candidates of theBattalion by your Midshipmans Foundation. It is a great opportunity to meet with Midshipmen, staff, and alumni. Formany years now we have also had a special visitor or two drop by and say a few words to the gathering. Who will it be thisyear? Tickets that have been ordered for the Texas-Baylor football game will also be distributed at the meeting. Football Game: Texas vs. Baylor. Start time is TBD. Tickets are $90. We have reserved 40 tickets. You can sign up for tickets on the Reunion Registration Form (Page 6). First come, first served. Reunion BBQ. Present plans call for us to have our BBQ right after the Business Meeting and Awards Ceremony. The location is TBD but it will most likely be on Speedway Plaza just outside Welch Hall or another location close to Welch Hall. We always plan on a few extra people, but be considerate and register early for this event so that we will have enough for everyone. The cost for the BBQ is $25 per head which includes your beverage. Reservations should be made on your Reunion Registration Form (Page 6). Note: Pok 'E' Joe's will only serve for 1-1/2 hours starting from the scheduled start time. Beverages are available until they are all consumed. Sunday 21 October Breakfast. Whether you choose to eat at the Embassy Suites’ buffet or head out to Cisco’s on East 6th Street for “migas”, be sure to meet and greet your fellow alums one more time before they hit the road! For Cisco’s it is recommended you get there early (i.e. around 8am) since it’s a popular place.

InMemoriam

Ben F. McDonald, Jr., Class of 1945, passed away July 19, 2012. Since our last newsletter, these alumni Bobby Dave “Bob” Lain, Class of 1959, passed away July 4, 2012. have joined the ranks of our other James Ross “Jim” Underwood, Jr., Class of 1948, passed away May 16, 2012. Fallen Comrades. See their photos and Kenneth James Leo, Class of 1986, passed away April 27, 2012. obituaries on our website. John D. Brasher, Class of 1957, passed away March 22, 2012.

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Volume 17, Issue 2 July 2012

University of Texas NROTC Alumni Foundation

P.O. Box 143562 Austin, TX 78714-3562

26th Annual Alumni Reunion (October 20, 2012 Weekend) Registration Form

Please return this form, with payment, by 1 October From: ___________________________________________________ Year Group: Address: Phone: (H) _______________________________ (C or W) Email Address:

� Yes!! I’ll be there!! Use the following information to make plans for me:

Thursday Navy League dinner (How many. Reservation process on Page 4) Friday Morning Golf _____ (How many to play. Pay at Golf Course)

Friday night ACC dinner _____ x $45 each = $

Football tickets (Baylor Game) _____ x $90 each = $

BBQ dinner tickets _____ x $25 each = $

Speedway Parking _____ x $15 each = $

Total amount for Reunion: $

� I cannot attend this year. Please update my contact information (see above).

NOTE: For more rapid handling, mail your Reunion Registration Form and Check to:

Dan O’Neil, Treasurer 3128 Burks Lane Austin, TX 78732-2117

� Which service do you identify with (check one): � USMC � USN

Make all Reunion checks payable to: UT NROTC ALUMNI FOUNDATION.

Reunion events payment and tax-deductible donations to the Alumni Foundation may be combined into one check. See separate donation form.

Exes for Texas

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XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX xXXXXXXXx XXXXXXX

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RAS – Front on East Mall

Volume 17, Issue 2 July 2012

Donation Form for Midshipmans Foundation Scholarship Fund

Name: ____________________________________________________________ Commissioning Class:

Mailing Address: ____________________________________________________ City:

State: Zip: Email:

Phone Nos. Home: Work: Fax:

As a Donor for Scholarships, please accept my tax-deductible donation for 2012 at one of these suggested levels

(check one): � $100 Make checks payable to: Midshipmans Foundation

� $500 and Mail to: Bob Gartner, Treasurer

� $1,000 6908 Bayridge Terrace

� $2,500 Austin, TX 78759

� $5,000

� Other (fill in amount): $

If your company offers matching gifts to non-profit organizations don’t forget to ask them and alert them before making

a contribution to us. Contact Bob Gartner if the matching process is more complicated. Donations will be acknowledged,

in writing, annually.

CO’s SITREP

So far it’s been a great summer! The MECEPS and STA-21 summer school students have been whipping me back intoshape, or at least partially. The 3/c midshipmen did quite well at CORTRAMID, and we received positive feedbackregarding their physical fitness levels (only 4 schools out of 60 had everyone pass the PRT – we were one of the 4!). Our2/c and 1/c midshipmen are in the process of completing their summer cruises traveling to far off lands such as Poland,New Zealand, Korea and Japan. All are terrific opportunities to interact with our fleet and international partners. We havealso had 6 Marines take part in OCS (3 complete, 3 currently enrolled) with Sgt Urban being designated as a DistinguishedGraduate! Quite an accomplishment.

We look forward to a new class of incoming freshmen in August. Thus far we have 55 prospective Midshipmenarriving. Should be a busy time. Out of the 55, six are on the Nurse scholarship, 31 are on the NROTC scholarship (5Marines), and 18 are what we call Naval Science Students. The orientation process starts on Wednesday, 22 August,culminating on Sunday evening, 26 August.

As we prepare for the fall semester, I would like to personally thank each of you for your superb support of the Unit.As I talk to other ROTC CO’s, it is readily apparent that the level of support this organization receives far surpasses that ofmy contemporaries. This is only possible because of your steadfast dedication to help produce the finest Naval and MarineCorps Officers in the fleet. Thank you!

GO NAVY! – V/R, John

Editor’s Note: CAPT John G. Eden assumed command from CAPT Dan Dixon on May 18, 2012 as Commanding Officerof the University of Texas Navy ROTC Unit and our 27th Professor of Naval Science. He is a native Texan and anaccomplished Naval Aviator. His last billet was as Commander, Carrier Air Wing TWO. See his bio on our website.

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UT NROTC ALUMNI FOUNDATION P.O. Box 143562 Austin, TX 78714-3562 Forwarding Service Requested

Come to the 2012 Reunion Party! ...................................................................................... 1 President’s Corner .............................................................................................................. 2 News from the Midshipmans Foundation ........................................................................... 2 Alumni Foundation Donation Form ............................................................................. 3 UT NROTC Alumni Foundation Income & Expense Statement ....................................... 3 2012 Reunion Activities ..................................................................................................... 4 In Memoriam .............................................................................................................. 5 Reunion Registration ................................................................................................... 6 CO’s SITREP ..................................................................................................................... 7 Midshipmans Foundation Donation Form .......................................................................... 7

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