Items of Interest

• Class Annual Report

• Lew Mologne Recognition

• Paid-Up Survivor Plan

Class Annual Report was sent by Distro54 on January 1, 2011

(a report for 2011 will be provided in January 2012)

Classmates, Widows, and Friends of the Class of 1954:

The purpose of this letter is to report on activities and events of the past year. In 2010 we marked the 60th anniversary or our entry into West Point as New Cadets and 56 years since our graduation. While we were green and wet behind the ears in the cadet years,1950-1954, today we are more than mature; our ages range from 77 to 86. Our class members have served our country both in uniform and as civilians since graduation. Our last classmate on active duty, Jack Galvin, retired 19 years ago. We are without any doubts truly “Old Grads.”

2010 was an off year for large class reunions, having just celebrated our 55th Reunion in 2009 with a rousing assembly of over 300 members of our class family at West Point in April of that year. Based on the success of the 55th Reunion and recognizing that age continues to take its toll, a suggestion was made to set up our next large reunion in the year 2011 rather than waiting for five years to pass. A planning group was established under the leadership of Frank Hart to look at the feasibility of holding a reunion in San Antonio, Texas, in 2011. During 2010 a reunion committee made up of members of the class who reside in San Antonio was formed and developed a reunion schedule, as well as hotel and transportation plans. As of today, January 12, 2011, a registration package arrived in our mail boxes; is now posted to the class web site, and has been sent out in an email. There are already 165 rooms reserved by the 1954 family members at the Historic Menger Hotel. This portends a great reunion in a beautiful city during the period April 28 to May 1, 2011.

The following were made members of the class Executive Committee at the 55th Reunion and continue in office: Bill Almon, Jim Dalton, Chuck Debelius, Bob Ellis, Bill Epling, Corky Gabbert, Frank Hart, Dion Johnson, Jack Miller, Rose Mologne, Warren Palmer, Jack Porter, Doug Stuart, Dale Vesser and Dick Youngflesh. Subsequently, the following assignments were made: President, Miller; Vice President, Hart; Secretary, Johnson; Treasurer, Stuart; Scribe, Ellis; Memorial Articles Project Officer, Porter; Information Technology Officer, Epling; and Coordinator of Company Guidon Bearers, Debelius.

The class has funds that are held in two accounts. In a Class of 1954 Account maintained by Doug Stuart there are investments and cash totaling $32,850. In an administrative account maintained by the Association of Graduates for the class’s use there is $14,216. The total of these two accounts is $47,066. These figures are as of December 31, 2010. In a separate account maintained and controlled by the Association of Graduates is our Class Gift Fund. The balance in that fund as of December 31, 2010 is $54,519.

The class has provided two endowments to the academy; one for the Advanced Technology Classroom, our 40th Reunion gift, and one for the Lucas Military Heritage Center, our 50th Reunion gift. The Advanced Technology Classroom began the year 2010 with a balance of $193,212. $5,272 from the endowment was made available for use in the Academic Year 09-10 and $8,393 was made available for the Academic Year 10-11. Endowment funds were used for the purchase of software programs. The Academic Year begins in August and ends in July of the following year. The classroom was relocated from Thayer Hall to Jefferson Hall, the new library, and is part of the Center for Teaching Excellence. The classroom was used by approximately 20 cadets and student visitors during the Student Conference on U.S. Affairs. It was used by six faculty members to teach courses in English, Social Sciences, Economics, Philosophy, and Chemistry. Approximately 150 faculty members met in 128 small group sessions as part of the Master Teacher Program. Forty members completed this program and graduated in May 2010.

The Lucas Military Center Endowment was created in 2009 as a 55th Reunion Gift. At the end of 2009 the endowment was worth $156,704. No distributions have been made from this endowment. The first distribution will be made for the 2011-2012 Academic Year. As of 31 December 2010 the endowment was worth $176,563. 

A major undertaking by the class since the 50th reunion has been the preparation of memorial articles for deceased classmates. Jack Porter has been the lead man in this effort. Much progress has been made over the past seven years; much still needs to be done and each year it becomes more difficult to keep pace with the need for articles. In 2010 the class had 8 articles published. However, we had 19 deaths in the same period. If you go to the class web site and click on “Memorial Articles” and then on “Cadet Company Pages” you can see how your company and other companies are doing. There are two measures of how much work has been done. For those who have died, are their memorial articles done? And for those still living, have those individuals recorded and submitted their own material? If you are in a company missing memorial articles, contact your company liaison and volunteer to help. The liaison or Jack Porter can steer you toward data and people to help you. Finally, take a few minutes to submit your own data. It makes the writing of a future memorial article much easier. The format for entering this data is in the “Memorial Articles” section on the class web site under the “How to Proceed” button. Do it now before you forget!

I strongly urge everyone to visit the class web site, www.usma1954.org, for current information on class activities and projects.

Here is a final reminder. Although we have planned no more class gifts, the Academy and the Association still need our individual support. Please continue to make annual gifts. Also consider making a planned gift of an annuity or bequest.

Jack Miller, President, Class of 1954

9646 Shadow Oak Drive

Gaithersburg, MD 20886     

jmiller@usma1954.org

301-330-5838

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Lew Mologne Recognition

On Friday, September 24^th, 2010 the McConnellsville, Pennsylvania Area School District honored 11 of its high school graduates. They were the first to be inducted into the district’s Hall of Fame. Included in the eleven was Lewis A. Mologne who graduated from McConnellsville High School in 1950. He was president of his class and valedictorian, and participated in three sports. He entered West Point and graduated in the Class of 1954. After serving three years in the Corps of Engineers he resigned his commission in order to pursue a career as a medical doctor. He attended the University of Pittsburgh and graduated as a Doctor of Medicine in 1961. He then returned to the Army and served with distinction until his death in 1988. For his last five years he commanded the Walter Reed Medical Center. He attained the rank of Major General and was the first West Point graduate to attain general officer rank in the Medical Corps.

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Paid-up Survivor Benefit Plan