News, Events & More
Previous Designs for Class Honor Coins
Posted: 11/15/2017
The Class of 72/22 honor coin will be presented to the plebes of the class of 2022 in the summer of 2018 as part of the Another Link in the Chain program. Our design for the coin requires that on one side, the Academy Crest is emblazoned, and that on one side (either the side with the Academy Crest or the reverse side) the words “Courage, Honor, Commitment” are inscribed. The design on the reverse side is of ours. It is recommended that it be simple and signify the bond between the two classes. Any one wishing to submit a design for the coin, please send it to Gary Coyle, at sherman2c@aol.com .
USNA Parachute Team – fund raising letter from Bill Boniface
Posted: 11/9/2017
November 2017
Class of 1972 classmates –
Some of you heard me make an initial pitch for the USNA Parachute Team at the class Business Meeting at our 45th Reunion. Back in our days on the Yard, parachuting – both military and sport – was a pretty common thing. Jumping at the Diary Farm was supplemented with sport jumping out at the Pelicanland Drop Zone in Ridgely. We watched the blue and gold round “Paracommander” canopies descend during June week 1972 when a few of our classmates jumped onto Farragut Field.
With outstanding volunteer help from a few highly talented sport parachuting instructors and competition champions, today’s team has reached levels of skill and experience in the sport far beyond those we were ever able to accomplish back in the day. However, unlike the Air Force Academy and West Point, who have half-century old, well-established parachute teams with strong institutional financial support, permanent staff and strong material support, Navy’s team remains an ECA that is almost entirely dependent on the participating midshipmen’s personal funds.
What the team currently lacks is funding to purchase common, Navy-themed team parachute systems they can jump in competitions and demonstration jumps to represent the Brigade. Doing exhibition jumps into Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (as Air Force and West Point cadets do at every home football game in their stadiums) is a primary goal of the midshipmen and one of the first requirements is to have distinctive Navy gear that can be passed down each year rather than have personal rigs that leave with each graduate.
Five parachute systems that can be kept, well-maintained, and passed down each year by the team for use over the next decade are the team’s initial goal. Each complete system (main parachute canopy, reserve parachute canopy, parachute container and automatic opening device) runs about $9,500, for a total need of about $47,500.
One incentive to contributing (and one that West Point’s team has used successfully) is that each parachute rig sponsored by a class for the full amount will have its class name permanently embroidered on the right side of the parachute containers as a frequent reminder of the class’ generous support for the midshipmen who jump them!
I’d love to see “Class of 1972” rigs being worn by the midshipmen team members for the next decade and would be deeply grateful if you would consider taking part in the effort to make that a reality.
Although this is not part of our class 50th reunion project goal, I’m nonetheless asking classmates to additionally consider a contribution to this effort. Any gifts to the team will be tax-deductible, and can be accomplished in any one of the following three ways:
(1) Go online at www.usna.com to the USNA Foundation; select “Make a Gift” and then go to the free-text block marked “Other.” Put in your contribution amount and annotate the right-hand block “USNA Parachute Team ECA.” Make sure the class year “1972” is in the class block and enter your credit card information.
(or)
(2) Send a check made out to the “USNA Foundation” with “USNA Parachute Team” in the Memo line, accompanied by a short note saying you are donating this money specifically for the Parachute Team and that you’re from the Class of 1972.
While your gift would not count against our class project goals, they would count as part of your USNA Foundation annual giving level (Tecumseh Club, Herndon Club, President’s Circle, etc.).
Address your note and check to: USNA Foundation
291 Wood Road, Beach Hall
Annapolis, MD 21402-1254
ATTN: Class Giving Coordinator
The USNA Foundation will send out tax receipts and thank you letters for any contributions done online or by check. They charge a 5% administrative fee, but they are very good at this (it’s their full-time job!) and are very prompt with acknowledgements and receipts.
(or)
(3) Finally, you can instead make a contribution directly to the Midshipman Welfare Fund through the USNA Comptroller. You can write a check to “United States Naval Academy” with “MWF/Parachute Team” in the Memo line with a brief note specifying that your contribution is to go specifically to the USNA Parachute Team.
100% of the contribution will go to the team (no administrative charges) but recognize that this is not their primary business and you might not receive acknowledgement as quickly as you would through the USNA Foundation. Alumni should note that contributions made this way would not be applied toward your USNA Foundation annual giving levels.
These contributions should be sent to: Comptroller Gift Fund Division
181 Wainwright Road
Annapolis, MD 21402
If you choose this method, please shoot me an e-mail (boniface72@gmail.com) so I can assure it gets counted as a “Class of 1972” contribution.
Through your generosity, I’m confident we’ll be able to support the midshipmen of the USNA Parachute Team in a very meaningful way and see one or more “Class of 1972” parachute systems coming down over Navy in the spring.
Thank you all!
Tried and True –
Bill Boniface ‘72
* This solicitation for the USNA Parachute Team to alumni and supporters is a private effort not connected in any official way with the U.S. Naval Academy. *
Class Fundraising Project Survey
Posted: 8/4/2017
Email Announcement of the Class Survey
From: Jeff Beard
To: Class of 1972 Alumni
Subject: Class of 1972 50th Reunion Class Fundraising Project Survey
As you know, our class has funded the Distinguished Military Professor role for a number of years. Our last fundraising campaign (after our 40th reunion) was designed to take us to our next (and final) campaign around the time of our 45th reunion. We’re now at that point, and planning has begun to undertake our final (50th) five-year campaign, kicking it off this fall at our 45th reunion class business meeting on Friday, October 20th.
In a nutshell, our class has raised over $4 Million over two five-year campaigns (including Annual Fund giving), with participation from about one-quarter of our classmates. With that history, and coupled with some research looking at other classes for their 50th reunion fundraiser (our five-year campaign will conclude on our 50th), it seems reasonable that we could set a multi-million dollar goal based on the feedback of key classmates who have been instrumental in their generous giving in the past. This level of funding could actually support two or three restricted components in addition to USNA’s Annual Fund.
In order to get your input on both the goal and the restricted components that we decide to support, I wanted to ask for your help in completing the attached Survey Monkey to get everyone’s input. Because the Superintendent’s strategic fundraising initiative list is quite extensive (17 projects), I’ve used our class officers and a group of selected key 1972 key donors to help narrow the list to four areas: (1) Academic (2) Physical (3) Moral and (4) The Naval Academy Annual Fund.
I’m sending each classmate an e-mail with the survey to complete, and what I’ve done with this web-posting is to show you a summary of what’s included in the survey, but you won’t be able to complete the survey through this posting. So, if you did not receive an e-mail with the survey link, please send me an e-mail and I’ll get it to you. I’ll plan to share the results at our Class Business Meeting on Thursday, October 20th. Your opinions are important and we really want to hear from you. The survey will close on August 18th.
While the survey has a section for providing qualitative input, if you’d like to provide feedback other than through the survey just e-mail me at jeffreyb72@icloud.com
Thank you for your time on this and helping our class make a significant contribution to USNA.
Jeff Beard
USNA 72 Class Store update for 45th Reunion
Posted: 4/22/2017
Early shopping deadline and key 45th Reunion registration milestone approaching!!
As previously mentioned, Memorabilia Bags WILL NOT be distributed during our 45th Reunion, but there is a place where you can get plenty of USNA ’72 gear – shop here … http://www.usnaclasstore.com/72store.html …at our Reunion Ship’s Store.
Early merchandise orders for mid-May shipment must be submitted before 30 April. The Ship’s Store will remain open after 30 April, however; merchandise orders placed between 1 May and 30 September will not be shipped until 02 October.
Sea Lawyer disclaimer – Some items in the Reunion Ship’s Store require a minimum number of orders for that specific item before the manufacturer will make a production run. If the minimum is not met on any given item by April 30, your credit card will not be charged for that item. Each customer who ordered the item will receive a note telling them that our supplier (Anchor Enterprises) will wait until October, which is the last deadline for orders. If the minimum has been met by then, Anchor will produce and ship the items at that time.
Deadline for early registration – The window for early registration closes on 7 June …a day we all remember well. After that, the price goes up. Don’t delay – register today!
2 May 2017: 20th Company Dining Out
Posted: 4/14/2017
From our Class President, Jim Grover:
“Mark your calendars for 2 May 2017!! Each year we present an award to a graduating senior in 20th Company who is selected by his or her classmates as the outstanding leader in the Company. This year’s recipient will be honored at the 20th Company dining out on Tuesday, 2 May at the USNA Officers and Faculty Club. A formal invitation with times, cost, and meal choices is forthcoming. It would be great to have as many Class of ’72 classmates in attendance as possible. If you can work this into your schedule please do. Thanks…hope to see you there.”
New Class Trailer for Tailgaters
Posted: 11/11/2016
From the Tailgate Master,
Attached is a picture of the new Class trailer. This was my summer project getting ready for the current tailgate season. After 13 years of loading and unloading my utility trailer every game, I reached a point where I needed more help with the tailgates. The Class Board of Directors decided it was time to get our own trailer that could be stored at the stadium during the season. I tried buying a used one on Craiglist and could not get any returned messages or call. So we set out to buy a new trailer and find a “deal”. After a lot of “shopping”, I found a company in Georgia that could build the trailer and deliver to us for less than going through a local dealer. They finished manufacturing the trailer in the morning and delivered it to my home late that same night. The trailer is two tone blue and gray. I painted the interior with two coats of gray paint to protect the wood. Also so Tal Manvel would feel at home with haze gray when he went inside.
Locally, There is sign company owned by one of our non grad classmates, John Prehn. John’s team did an excellent job with our Class crest and logo. So look for the Class of ’72 trailer when you come to a game. We are still tailgating along the blue (home) side of the stadium at the perimeter of the parking lot. Alan
20th Company Dining Out – May 2016
Posted: 9/6/2016
On Sunday, May 1st, 20th Company hosted their annual dining out. As is usual they invited their company sponsors, the Class of ’72. The event was well run and most enjoyable as these young warriors observed an age old traditional evolution. A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the guest speaker. Capt Matt Lampert, USMC, the new 22nd company officer and a member of the class of ’06. Capt. Lampert lost both legs while leading a MARSOC team in Helmand province in 2010. After a lengthy recovery Matt returned to MARSCOC, was a company XO and returned to Afghanistan commanding a MARSOC company. While an incredible story of perseverance, motivation, courage and commitment, he only once referred to “being hurt in Afghanistan” as he spoke of leadership and the culture of the military community. He was accompanied by his wife, also a Marine Captain and member of ’06. She is a test pilot and potential astronaut. She was also deployed to Afghanistan as a help pilot when her husband was injured. Both have been selected for major.
Representing the class of ’72 were our president, Jim Grover, Fred Cohrs and his wife, and yours truly who had the pleasure of presenting the Class of 1972 Leadership award to Midn 1/c Caleb Crispell. Midn Crispell was the highest in peer ranking of 20th company firsties. Midn Crispell who obviously has the respect f his classmates is an unassuming scholar (3.9 gpa) and athlete who will be going Marine ground after graduation. The new company officer is Lt. Jim Montgomery, a submariner. I was going to call him the rookie company officer as this is his first year, but the way he guided his company in putting on a dignified yet loose and fun gathering shows he is no rookie at all.
Beat Army!
Skip Kohler “72
Class VP for Brigade Support
[picture from right to left: President Jim Grover, Midn 1/c Caleb Crispell, Skip Kohler (missing id Fred Cohrs who had to leave before we could get everyone rounded up for the picture).
A Link in the Chain
As we approach our forty-fifth reunion in 2017, we are also approaching the beginning of an important commitment to the Academy and to the Class of 2022. Established by the Class of 1950, USNA alumni classes have established a bond with the midshipmen in the classes 50 years their junior, a program called “A Link in the Chain.” This program (ALITC) has grown over the years and provides several opportunities for us to interact with the Class of 2022 throughout their years at the Academy. Starting with participation in the welcoming events prior to their arrival, ALITC offers the chance to create with the Class of 2022 a bond of understanding and mutual respect between the generations. From the “Bonds of Gold” commitment, where donated classes rings from the Class of 72 will be given to the Class of 22 to be melted into the gold used in their rings, and the donation of our swords to the graduates of the class, there are numerous activities that will involve us with these future officers. A brief history of our class will also be included in the Reef Points of the Class of 2022. The ALTIC Coordinator for the Class of 1972 is the Class Historian, Gary Coyle. Contact Gary (gary.coyle@1972.usna.com ) for more information.
