Class of 1961

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Class of 1961
No. of appointees: 314
Inprocessing Day: 5 July 1957
Fall Cadet Wing Commander:
Spring Cadet Wing Commander:
No. of graduates: 217
Graduation Date: 7 June 1961
Graduation Speaker: SecAF Eugene Zuckert
Class Motto: Pro Nobis Astra
(For us, the stars)
Class Greeting:
Class Exemplar:
Class Color: Gray
Class Web site: http://www.usafa1961.org/


The Class of 1961 is the third class to graduate from the Academy.

Contents

[edit] Statistics

The Class of 1961 arrived at the Academy (then at Lowry Air Force Base) on July 5, 1957, numbering 314. This number included 307 original appointees and 7 who originally started with the Class of 1960 and were later reappointed to the Class of 1961. They graduated 217 men on June 7, 1961. As of May 12, 2007, 43 graduates have died, leaving 174 survivors.

The seven members of the class who originally started with the Class of 1960 are: Vic Bouquet, Doug Cairns, Larry Chiappino, Tom Hill, Tom Pattie, Don Paye, and John Weaver. All, except Chiappino, graduated with the Class of 1961.

Four members of the class were reappointed and graduated with the Class of 1962 (Lanny Hall, Bob Holcomb, Tim Travis, and Brad Van Sant). One member of the class was reappointed and graduated with the Class of 1963 (Drue DeBerry). Two graduates were commissioned in the US Army (Gordy Clarke and Tom Pattie) and two in the US Marine Corps (Jim Cassidy and Neal Rountree).

Sixteen graduates attained general rank.

Two graduates (Terry Jorris and Tom LaPlante) received the Jabara Award for Airmanship

[edit] Distinguished Graduates

[edit] Reunions

The class has held reunions on the following dates at USAFA:

  • 10th Reunion, October 8-9, 1971
  • 20th Reunion, September 17-20, 1981
  • 25th Reunion, October 5-12, 1986
  • 30th Reunion, August 1-4, 1991
  • 35th Reunion, October 9-13, 1996
  • 40th Reunion, September 12-16, 2001
  • 45th Reunion, September 7-11, 2006

The class has organized several regional reunions, among which the most memorable have been: reunions of the 61st Tactical Fighter Squadron (Mythical) organized the Brice Jones in conjunction with his World Croquet Tournament in May, the Hospices of Sonoma and the Football games against Army at West Point; the notorious meetings of the “Drunks and Derelicts Bunch” normally held in Park City UT and lately in Telluride CO; the more than 10 “Pony Run” reunions organized by John and Joan Kohout in the Chincoteague area of Virginia; the several “Spring Fling” reunions hosted by PB and Mer O’Connor in Caswell Beach NC; the Redneck Riviera Reunions organized by Jimmy Poole and others in the Redneck Riviera area around Gulf Shores AL and Perdido Key FL; the Lake Lanier GA "Spring at the Lake" gathering held by Mike Rawlins, Sam Barrazone and others and the Pete Lane/Tom Williams “Grey Tag Grapevine Gathering” held around Grapevine TX just north of the DFW Airport, near Hoghollow and close to Bugtusle.

[edit] Trivia

  • After more than 50 years of playing golf, Mark Anderson finally got his first hole in one on June 7, 2003, at the Fair Oaks Ranch Golf Course. Upon telling Ginger, she said, "Gee Mark, I wasn’t looking, can you do it again?"
  • As of the latest count more than 20 members of the class have children or children in law who are or have been in the military.
  • Earl Saunders’ son-in-law and grandson graduated from USAFA. Earl’s daughter Cathryn married Tom Karmondy (Class of 1982) their son Matt graduated from USAFA with the Class of 2006. Matt is the first third generation legacy for the Academy!
  • Tom Brophy, Art Kerr and Ron Weeden are great grandfathers!
  • The three average height persons in our class are Charlie Neel, Hector Negroni and PB O’Connor; everyone else is either above average or below average. Jim Wilhelm is rapidly losing height and might become “normal height.”

[edit] WHITLY

For the Class of 1961:

  • No Christmas leave first year.
  • No Spring break ever.
  • Classes on Saturday AM.
  • Conpulsory Chapel attendance.
  • Marching to all meals.
  • Marching to all classes.
  • As 4th Classman only allowed to leave cadet limits for Dining Privilege.
  • Dining Privilege was limited to one per month.
  • Dining Privilege only authorized with USAFA officer/nco.
  • Parades every Saturday, come hell or high water.
  • No radio until 3rd Classman.
  • No stereo until 2nd Classman.
  • No civilian clothes except when on-leave.
  • Had to leave USAFA in coat and tie when on leave.
  • Grades were posted for everyone to see.
  • Sections were made according to grades.
  • Sections were re-shuffled every 6 weeks.
  • A uniform for everything, including "picnics."
  • Cars 2nd semester of first class year.

This just shows that USAFA went to hell after we graduated!

Hector Negroni


[edit] Other References

Classes
1959
1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969
1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
2010 2011 2012
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