50th Reunion Class Gift

February 6, 2024 – 50th Reunion Gift Committee Initial Communication

I am writing you regarding our 50th reunion Class Gift. Yes, we are just starting the process but I wanted to reach out to all classmates to communicate our intent and provide some background. Yes, we just finished contributing to build the new permanent Class recognition on the gate of the new Fleugel Alumni Center – thank you so much; looking forward our 50th is four years away. I was deep selected to head the ’78 Class Gift team and there are 11 classmates, many whom you know. If you were at the 45th class meeting, you may recall that there was an outcry regarding what we should support; we heard your concerns and are proceeding accordingly. We are looking to fund initiatives that will make us all proud. It has been a tradition that each class fund a significant gift for its 50th and I can assure you that you will have an input in what is ultimately decided for ‘78. Our process will be as transparent as possible and we anticipate fostering two-way communication via surveys and comments. You are kindly encouraged to participate. I, as a representative of the committee, will be periodically reaching out to you regarding our work as it progresses but wanted to provide this initial note following our 45th.

Very Respectfully and GO NAVY,

John Semcken

Team Members: John Rudder , Maurice Tose, Kevin Grinch Lynch, Charles Chip Jones, Dave Buss, Frank Behm, Ray Kwong, John Young, Bill Levis, John Kovalcik, John Semcken

Can you still recite the answers to these two questions?

How Long Have You Been in the Navy?

All me bloomin’ life, sir! Me mother was a mermaid, me father was King Neptune. I was born on the crest of a wave and rocked in the cradle of the deep. Seaweed and barnacles are me clothes. Every tooth in me head is a marlinspike; the hair on me head is hemp. Every bone in me body is a spar, and when I spits, I spits tar. I’se hard. I is, I am, I are!

How’s the Cow?

Sir, she walks, she talks, she’s full of chalk. The lacteal fluid extracted from the female of the bovine species is highly prolific to the (approx. number of milk glasses remaining in carton) nth degree!

April 17, 2023 – Presentation on Class of 1978 Gift for the new Alumni Center

Classmates,

Attached is a slide presentation of our Class Gift for the new USNA Alumni Association Center along King George’s Street. Notice there will be two areas of recognition for our Class: 1) Gate 2 and, 2) a plaque along the pathway on the front side of the building. Thanks to a large gift from a classmate, a final accounting shows our Class gifted $1,931,924 in support of our new Alumni Center. Gifts were given by 257 classmates, and we had 67 plankowners, third most among all classes.

Thank you all for your generous support on this first half of our Class 50th Reunion gift. We will provide details about the second half of our 50th Class gift during our 45th Reunion in October. Hope to see you all in Annapolis this fall.

Fair winds…

Glen

Glen Woods

President, USNA Class of 1978

Alumni Center Headquarters Building Project Update