Greetings 78ers… 

I hope this finds you guys well as we get closer to 2028 entering Camp USAFA (I Day is 26 Jun so very close to when this should be published). Hopefully several of you saw the Legacy Class activities in the last article. In case you didn’t pleae refer here:https://aoglegacyclass.usafagroups.org/class-of-1978-legacy.html. Class president Steve Dalbey is still leading the charge (I’m stuck at home with minimal leave and two grandbabies due in NC and GA in the next couple of months) working with the AOG and contacting local folks. His e-mail is dalbeysw@aol.com and am sure he would love to hear from you especially those in the Springs. 

Am still receiving great info on last year’s reunion. Jeff Fellmeth sent a couple of CS-12 shots with the one below showing the most classmates. They had 17 classmates show up with 30 (including a classmate who left our Sophomore year and a Prep School classmate). The picture below is from Friday night at the Viewhouse (I-25 and Woodmen Rd). Front row: Ray “Sky” King, Jeff, Bill Senn, J.P. Karstens. 2nd row: Mel Muzkiz, Bob Gibbons, Dave Bos 3rd row: Sam Barr, Dan Lentz, Pat “Lou” Daly, Walt Ifill 4th row: Mike “Moose” Evers, Dave Groves, Jeff Kintzing 5th row: Frank Spendley, Marc Tompson, Marty Allen, Brent Wainscott. Missing: Tom Prodonovich (came to the game) J.D. Pauly (family emergency). Thanks for the great shot and info Jeff!

Back in the December article Mike Spain sent a nice shot of CS-27 during the reunion. Mike’s message included a shot of several guys with then Miss Colorado, ’23 grad Madison Marsh, which I didn’t include due to more guys being in the shot used (Cliff Huff posted the article on the class website: http://usafa78-is-great.org). , after 2Lt Marsh won the Miss America crown Marshall Wong resent it along with some excellent classmate info:

“Marshall (Melodie) retired 2 years ago from Anesthesiology practice in Dallas after 25 yr AF career and likes to hunt, fish, and travel. Phil Farrell retired F 16, A 10/Delta pilot in GA and now part owner and brewmeister for Stillfire Brewing in Suwanee. He travels the US and world as a Grandmaster taster. Rob Harrison (Mary Ellen) retired from Excelis and then his independent consulting business. Now owns and runs apartments in a historic home in downtown COS. Mike Spain (Cindy) left Buffs and KC 10s for Delta and retired, moving from UT to Gulf Breeze FL to be closer to sons and grandkids. They love to cruise and watch the Blue Angels practice.

Craig Taliaferro (Karen) flew T 38s, went to law school and retired from law practice in San Antonio. Plays a lot of golf and travels. Mark Gallagher (Gail) retired F16/ Southwest pilot lives in the Springs. Keeps busy with grandkids, Habitat for Humanity, and church group. Doug Whitlow (Anna Barbera) still working with the Dept of Veteran Affairs in DC after years at the Pentagon and flying C141/American Airlines. He splits time between VA and Switzerland where his wife works and they intend to retire.

The pic is below L to R Phil Farrell, Rob Harrison, Mike Spain, Ms Marsh, Marshall, and Craig Taliaferro. Well done Marshall!

Speaking of Cliff Huff, he sent the amazing shot below taken by our own John Winkopp of the SpaceX launch of Crew 7 to the ISS. John won the Aviation Week 2023 Photo Contest as “Best of the Best!” You can see the very impressive entries here and what a big deal John’s win is: Aviation Week 2023 Photo Contest Winning Photos. He also won the Spacepoint.org Starship IFT2 Photo Challenge. Well done John and thanks for the info Cliff.

Aviation Week 2023 Photo Contest Best of the Best

Spacepoint.org Starship IFT2 Photo Challenge

John Mutari lives in Syracuse NY and has helped at the Syrause Men’s shelter hosting a Super Bowl party for the past 10 years. A local Syracuse station did a very cool 2+20 min spot here along with some of John’s personal story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItYrOK946rE. Another outlet published a news link here: https://cnycentral.com/news/local/local-neighbor-helps-to-bring-super-bowl-party-to-syracuse-mens-shelter. John was a T-38 IP leaving the AF in 1984 enrolling in a pre-seminary program with one of the pastoral experiences bringing providing food to a local shelter. His service has grown from there and makes a difference for a lot of people in need. Incredible story John, thank you for your caring for less fortunate people!

Former Doolie squadron mate Jeff Kindshuh reports that he is still working as a CE program manager at Tinker air patch in Oklahoma City after 20 years of civil service back in February. He doesn’t seem to show any signs of slowing down in the near future - Happy anniversary Jeff! Another Doolie squadron and roommate Ted Waltman shared that he’s loving life in Cedaredge CO which is a small town about 60 miles southeast (as the crow flies) of Grand Junction. He sold his software company to a national firm some years ago and “retired (mostly)” in the Denver area. Bride Jean retired as a nurse from the Army then Kaiser 3 years ago moving to Cedaredge in Aug of 21.

Finally, Jack Anthony continues to provide amazing stories of the local area before it was USAFA. The link below has a great podcast he did recently with the AOG:

https://heritageminute.podbean.com/e/mystery-history-and-stories-a-heritage-minute-special/.

I’m now officially out of space…thank you to all for the “great” contributions this quarter! Have a great summer.

78 is Great!