The very successful production of "Spring—1622" and "Cold Harbor—1864" at CNC on February 26, 1965 was followed by an exciting and historical evening at Fort Eustis on March 4, when the Dramatic Workshop students repeated their CNC program at an off-campus venue before a military audience. Workshop student Norman Blankenship recalls "the thrill of being invited" to the Army base, where the students performed at the Studio Theater, a much more professional venue than CNC's Lecture Hall. Performing at Eustis was, he remembers, "a powerful experience for all of the cast and crew."
The large photograph above was made at the Studio Theater at Fort Eustis, where CNC's Dramatic Workshop students were relaxing on the afternoon of March 4, 1965, apparently before or after rehearsals. The unknown photographer took this picture from the stage. The hospitality the visiting Workshop students enjoyed at the Army base is apparent in the tables and chairs provided and the many paper cups in the photo, visible also to the far right at a beverage station. No doubt some of the people in this photo are Eustis personnel hosting the CNC group.
The object on the stage in the foreground is a prop representing a tree stump. Of the two women sitting on the edge of the stage, the lady on the right, with her left hand on her face, is Frances Kitchin, the Director of the Dramatic Workshop. The other woman has not yet been identified. Two of the three men sitting at the table in front of Mrs. Kitchin have been identified. Workshop student Dave Ahearn recognized student actor Perry DePue, who verified he was "the person visible to the right of Mrs. Kitchin." Perry is wearing a dark sweater and only half of his face is visible. Perry also thinks "the fellow to my right is Ron Hunt," another Workshop actor, facing the camera. Readers who recognize other people in this picture are encouraged to contact us (email addresses below).
The program above gives us valuable historical information I have not found elsewhere: the date of the Fort Eustis presentation, the names of the dramatic characters, the scenes, and details about the plays including copyright dates, earlier productions, and recent honors. At this time, I have found no copies of either play. Anyone who has a copy or copies is encouraged to contact us (addresses below).
Two male students had roles in both of the one-act plays: Larry Herman and Ron Hampton. StudentJay Warren's memory explains that situation: I was hanging around the Student Activities Room when the Dramatics Workshop was starting up and Scottie Fitzgerald and Pat Henry ganged up on me because they needed more men for the plays....I qualified because I only had one "X" chromosome. I have no skill for rote memory and as a consequence was unable to learn my lines and created great frustration for Mrs. Kitchin and the rest of the cast. The Dramatic Workshop needed non-actors too, however, so Jay was put in charge of properties for these first productions.
The Scrapbook picture above came from the March 10, 1965 Captain's Log (Vol. 2, Issue 3, p. 4). Poor quality reproduction of photos in the very early Captain's Log issues occurred often. Having seen some of the original photos used, I know that the problem was not the pictures but the publication of them. Also, newsprint over 50 years old does not age well either.
Folk music was very popular in the early 1960s. The musical entertainment between the two plays featured CNC singers who played the guitar (Ann Marion) and the banjo (Dave Ahearn), and singers who did not play instruments, Judye Fuller (now Schneider) and Curtiss Pittman. In recalling her experiences singing in this group, Judye (1965 Trident photo) wrote: I don't recall a lot about these performances but I do remember we had fun overall in being in the workshop. We performed once when I was to sing a duet and the other singer stopped on one verse and I had to do it alone. It was nerve wracking!
The duet Judye remembers was described in that March 10, 1965 Captain's Log issue thus: " 'Autumn to May,' was done as a solo by Curtiss Pittman, joined by Judye Fuller in the chorus and accompanied by Ann Marion on the guitar and David Ahearn on the banjo." Curtiss (1965 Trident photo) recalls that he made it through the first verse and then went blank. There was a 3-4 cord interlude between verses which Ann played on the guitar. She played once, twice, and by the third time was leaning forward whispering the words to me. Finally heard her and got through my debut.
Not long after his nervous debut, Curtiss wrote, he learned to play the guitar and became lead singer in two local folk groups. "Even got an offer to tour with Up With People," he wrote. "But alas my Uncle Sam called and said: 'Take this rifle, kid, and gimme that guitar.' " So ended his budding musical career.
Off stage awaiting their cue in the Fort Eustis theater (photo above) are "Cold Harbor" actors Larry Herman (as a Confederate soldier) and Norman Blankenship (as a wounded Union soldier). All photographs in this article are from Dalton Kelley Blankenship's Dramatic Workshop Scrapbook.
The first plays produced by students in CNC's first theatrical group, were two one-act historical dramas written and copyrighted by Frances Kitchin, director of CNC's Dramatic Workshop and wife of CNC English and speech instructor William W. Kitchin. Both plays had been performed at other venues earlier and had won awards. Workshop member Norman Blankenship recalls that Frances Kitchin was "a true theater professional and a gracious lady" and that "the only reason we were able to perform 'Spring—1622' and 'Cold Harbor—1864’ was that Mrs. Kitchin had written them"--thus the group did not have to adhere to "rights and royalties."
Director Frances Kitchin gives her Dramatic Workshop students some last minute pointers before their February 26, 1965 opening performance at CNC.
The two dramas were excellent choices for CNC's theatrical debut on Friday evening, February 26, 1965 in Christopher Newport Hall's Lecture Room. Each was based upon brutal historical events in Virginia that had occurred relatively close to Newport News and about which most educated Virginians had some knowledge.
The title and setting of "Spring—1622," described in the program (cover right) as "a few miles outside Jamestown," allude to the Indian Massacre of 1622--a daylight slaughter of colonists--men, women and children--on March 22, 1622. Powhatan warriors suddenly attacked English settlements all up and down the James River in retaliation for similar violent acts the colonists had committed against them. They burned and looted the settlements and killed 347 colonists--then 25% of the English population of Virginia. Warned of the pending attack by colonist Richard Pace, who was warned by an Indian youth living at his home, Jamestown had time to increase its defenses and was fortunately spared (Wikipedia).
The title of “Cold Harbor—1864" and the setting, anevening "behind Confederate lines" at "an isolated guard post,” allude to the Civil War's Battle of Cold Harbor (May 31 - June 12)--one of the "bloodiest, most lopsided battles" of that war. Union Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, attempting to reach Richmond, ordered “a hopeless frontal assault against the fortified positions of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's army" near what is now Mechanicsville, VA. Approximately 7,000 Union soldiers and 1,500 Confederate ones were killed (Wikipedia). Grant later wrote in his memoirs, "I regret this assault more than any one I have ever ordered."
THE PERFORMANCES AT CNC
CNC’s one-act plays of course did not stage the historical events described above, but depicted how they might have influenced the lives of some people during those periods. The March 10, 1965 article below from CNC’s student newspaper, The Captain’s Log (Vol. 2, Issue 3, p. 1), included the names of all the student actors, directors, musicians and others involved in presenting “Spring—1622” and “Cold Harbor—1864” and called the performances “a tremendous success.”
In the 1964-65 academic year, the only building on the CNC campus on Shoe Lane was the first one: Christopher Newport Hall. The Lecture Hall in Newport was where these first two plays were performed. With theater-like tiered seating for about 225 people, the hall was used for numerous events: class lectures, faculty meetings, community events and, beginning in 1965, commencements and theatrical performances. There was no elevated stage—just a floor area at the front of the room. “Cold Harbor” actor Norman Blankenship remembers that since the audience “was right at the edge of the stage,” the student actors “thought we were ‘avant garde’ even though we really did not know what that meant.” Behind this “stage,” Norman recalls, was “a small supply room,” very narrow, which doubled as “backstage” for scene and costume changes—fortunately, in these first plays, quite minimal.
Not only were the two plays CNC’s first dramatic productions, they were also CNC’s first dramas to be performed at an off-campus venue: the Army base Fort Eustis, located in upper Newport News. The above photograph with a caption probably appeared in one of the newspapers printed then by the Daily Press—most likely, the afternoon paper, The Times-Herald, which almost exclusively covered CNC news in the college’s early decades. Part 2 of this article, to be published January 29, 2021, will cover the Fort Eustis performances of “Spring—1622” and “Cold Harbor—1864,” with photos and memories of some of the students involved in that historic event.
Graham Pillow (A.B. and M.T.S., W&M), originally hired to teach physics in CNC's second year (1962-63), brought our young college into the computer world in the mid-1960s, at its new location on Shoe Lane. As assistant professor of math and computers (1971 Trident photo, p. 21), he was given space on the first floor of Newport Hall for equipment mysterious to most of us faculty and staff members. There he set up CNC's first Computer Center. “We had no computing power on site,” Graham recalled, so “all programs were submitted to the William and Mary computers over dedicated data lines.”
The Computer Center had the only air conditioning in Newport Hall for several years, required because the equipment could not tolerate any humidity, On extremely hot days, especially during Summer Sessions, some of us teaching in Newport Hall would manufacture lame excuses for stopping by the Center so that we could cool off for awhile.
A crucial early task Graham undertook for the College was that of helping the Office of Admissions and Registration handle registration and class rolls in a faster, more modern way. Everything did not always go smoothly at first, however. As his wife, Registrar Jane Pillow, recalled (1970 Trident photo, p. 15) : “one of the first printouts Graham brought to the office, a list of all CNC students, created great excitement—until it was discovered that the listing was in social security, rather than alphabetical, order" (Memories of Christopher Newport College, p. 147).
Computer cards filled with holes became a familiar sight on our campus. The cards used at CNC (photo right) were sent to me courtesy of Dr. Sam Bauer, Professor Emeritus of Psychology. The CNC seal on them was adopted in 1970. When I asked Graham about the different colors of these, he wrote, “The plain cards were for student use in computer classes. Brown cards were significant because they represented student data for Registrar records. I think the red cards were used for programs submitted by myself or the ladies who worked for me."
Regarding the bulky machine in the photo shown left below, Graham wrote, “That is a keypunch machine … used to punch characters in a card which is then read into a computer by a card reader. If you had one of these machines now it would be an antique. When I was later Director of Medical Computing at the University of Virginia, we had three shifts of keypunch operators (55 people) who punched every patient charge sent down by nurses, techs, and doctors into a card using these machines. The cards were then sorted by a card sorter by patient name and then read into the computer in groups of over a thousand cards. Things sure have changed.”
Graham quickly became Chair of Computer Studies at CNC. The photo top left (1969Trident, p. 25) shows him working at the Computer Center's keypunch machine, described above. The other photo (1971 Trident, p. 21), is of Hugh C. Hilliard, Jr. (B.S., VPI; M.S., Harvard), who joined the faculty in 1970 as instructor of math and computers. Hugh assisted Graham with designing CNC’s first interdependent B.S. degree, Management Information Science (MIS), which required courses in business, psychology, and computer science. The 1971 CNC Catalog listed 6 courses under Computer Management, involving programming using RPG, COBOL, FORTRAN, and PL/1.
The first MIS degrees were awarded in 1972 to four students:Lorraine Farquhar Armstrong, Davis Wray Martin, Wilma Jean Riden (now Moore), and Thaddeus Joseph Schatzel. Wilma is the only one of these four thus far located. Can you help us locate any of the others? The BS: MIS degree was eventually replaced by the Bachelor of Science in Information Science degree (BSIS).
Jane Carney Pillow lost her battle with cancer on August 9, 2009. Graham Pillow lost his battle with Covid-19 on November 13, 2020. We have not been able to locate Hugh Hilliard.
NOTE: Some of this material appeared originally in "The People Within: Smith Hall in 1967," in Memories of Christopher Newport College, the First Decade, 1961-1971, by A.J. Chambers, R.C. Hubbard, & L.B. Wood, Jr.
Like virtually every organization and activity at Christopher Newport College, theater at CNC began with the students--actually one student--in the academic year 1964-65. It was the fourth year of the new school's existence and the first year on the "Shoe Lane Campus," which had only one building completed, Newport Hall, and a second under construction, Gosnold Hall.
The Dramatic Workshop (1964-66)
A Captain's Log article titled "CNC Instructor's Wife Heads Dramatics Club," published March 10, 1965, gives the origin of the Dramatic Workshop: The original idea...was conceived last October [1964] when Scottie Fitzgerald spoke of her desire for some type of dramatic organization at CNC to Mr. Kitchin. Mr. Kitchin then told his wife of the idea whereupon she called a meeting the next week, to begin dramatic work at CNC (Vol. 2, Issue 3, p. 4). Having a theater club at CNC was readily approved by then Director (later, President) H. Westcott Cunningham.
The photo left, from page 37 of the 1965 Trident, is that of Kathie Scott (Scottie) Fitzgerald, a young married sophomore whose talk with Bill Kitchin (photo right) led to formation of the Dramatic Workshop. A very active student leader, Kathie was the Student Government Association President in 1964-65. Unfortunately, we have not been able to locate her. William Willis (Bill) Kitchin had just joined the faculty that year as an instructor of English and speech. He left CNC sometime before 1970 to accept another position elsewhere. His photo is from page 23 of the 1966 Trident.
Bill's wife, Frances Kitchin, described in the Captain's Log article cited above as “director, producer, and author of some of the plays that will be presented,” had a background in playwriting, acting, and teaching drama. Thus she was an ideal person to lead CNC's fledgling drama program. The photo of her on the right is from page 51 of the 1966 Trident. I do not know whether Frances worked voluntarily with the students or received a small stipend from the college. She was not a member of the faculty. She left CNC with Bill and died not long after that.
Student officers of the Dramatic Workshop the first year (1964-65) were President: Gwendolyn Fay (Gwen) Seidler Stevens (who died from Parkinson's disease in 2015, shortly after she joyfully attended her 50th Reunion at CNC with one of her sons); VP: Judith H. (Judye) Fuller Schneider (now living in Colorado); Sec: Ronald H. (Ron) Hunt ( who lives in Richmond and has an article on our website about living with Mr. Usry);Treas: Julia Ann (Judy) Osborne (not yet located) and Librarian: Carolyn (Carol) Riley (not yet located).
Dalton Blankenship's Historic Scrapbook
Two of the most dedicated members of the Dramatic Workshop were sweethearts since high school Dalton Kelley and Norman Blankenship, who married in 1967. They have been dedicated CNC First Decaders since our group's first grand weekend reunion at CNU on September 16 & 17, 2011. When Dalton told me she still had a Dramatic Workshop scrapbook she had created, I asked to see it (title page photo left). I was impressed by her collection of photos, playbills, newspaper clippings and other items that preserved much of the history of CNC's first dramatic club.
On one of their annual trips to Newport News, the Blankenships met me for lunch at the Crab Shack Restaurant on the James River (photo right) and turned the scrapbook over to me so that its contents could be copied and preserved on a compact disc (CD). Having the necessary professional quality equipment and technical skills for that task, our CNC First Decaders webmaster, Ron Lowder, carefully dismantled the scrapbook, photographed each fragile page, created the CD, and reassembled the scrapbook. He then returned the scrapbook to me, along with the CD, and I eventually got the scrapbook back to the Blankenships at another reunion. This article begins a series based largely on that material.
The above photos are of rehearsals for two one-act prize winning plays written by Frances Kitchen that were the first plays performed by the Dramatic Workshop students, in February of 1965. The first picture (left) is from page 32 of the 1965 Trident, which did not identify the students or the play being rehearsed. Dalton's scrapbook includes this same picture, but also identifies the actors as (L-R) Gwen Seidler, Pat Henry, Scottie Fitzgerald, Carol Riley, & Ronnie Hunt and the play as "Spring--1622," set in the Jamestown Colony. Pat (Patsy) Henry Buckingham is deceased. Scottie and Carol have not yet been located.
The photo on the right is one of several glossy 8 x 10 pictures in the scrapbook that I have seen nowhere else. It shows a dress rehearsal of "Cold Harbor--1864," set in Civil War Virginia. The actors are (L-R) Julie Osborne, Gwen Seidler, Rob Hampton, & (on the floor) Norman Blankenship, playing a wounded Union soldier. Julie and Rob have not yet been located. These two photos demonstrate the historical value of the scrapbook.
When I first learned about her scrapbook, Dalton Blankenship told me that she was “the unofficial historian” of CNC’s Dramatic Workshop. I think she actually deserves the title of official historian of those first two years of student drama, for nowhere at Christopher Newport University, to my knowledge—nor in any of the 3 books thus far published about the history of CNC/CNU—have I seen the amount of historical information about CNC’s Dramatic Workshop that she has documented in this scrapbook.
The photographs and some of the material in this article appeared earlier in my First Decade History website article entitled Dalton's Historical Scrapbook, published in May, 2014.
The St. Louis Cardinals scorecard (below left) sold at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, is dated 1955--the year James Samuel (Sam) McIntyre graduated from Hampton High School, joined the St. Louis Cardinals farm system, and began a career of six years as a minor league baseball player. After his baseball career he served in the U.S. military, then entered CNC as a freshman in the fall of 1962. The photo of Sam below is from the first CNC yearbook, the 1964 Trident. He received his A.A. degree at the June 4, 1964, commencement held in the old Daniel Elementary School building in downtown Newport News, CNC's first home.
Not until I read the Chris's Crier article "Pro Athlete at CNC," by Brook Treakle, did I know that CNC First Decader Sam McIntyre was once a professional baseball player. He never mentioned that fact to me. The December 7, 1962, article's opening paragraph states that while enrolled at CNC then-freshman Sam, "a Gloucester county native," was living in Buckroe "with his wife, the former Lenore Clarke" [still his wife in 2020] and that during his Hampton High years he was "active in basketball, baseball, and band" and in the summers played baseball "for American Legion Post 31," which twice voted him "Most Valuable Player."
Right after high school, Sam signed on with the Cardinals for $4000, equivalent in purchasing power to about $38,525 in 2020--quite a lot of money then, especially for a boy of 17 or 18. The Cardinals sent him first to Hazlehurst, Georgia, then later that season to Decatur, Illinois. According to the Crier article, that first season for Sam was "frustrating." He played third base, and "his .211 batting average failed to impress the Cardinal organization."
His career improved greatly, however, when his position changed to pitcher. His second season, 1956, Sam was sent back to Hazlehurst, where he "won ten games...to lead his last place team to victories." In 1957, he played in Albany, Georgia, where he "again paced his team in victories (13-5) and was named by the league sports writers as the Georgia-Florida League's top hurler." From 1958 - 1970, Sam led two more teams in victories: "one year at Billings, Montana and two seasons at Winston-Salem, North Carolina." His second year at Winston-Salem, 1960, he hit "back-to-back home runs...six round-trippers in all that year."
Two events occurred in 1960 that led to the closing of Sam's baseball career: the military draft connected with the escalation of the conflict in Vietnam, which had begun in 1955, and physical problems with his pitching arm. Sam played for the Tulsa Oilers of the AA Texas League in 1960, but "bothered by arm trouble" he "failed to win a game." He soon fulfilled his obligation to the armed services.
At CNC, Sam was a member of the Circle K Club and also served in the Student Government Association as an Assemblyman in his sophomore year. After receiving his A.A. degree, he earned a B.S. degree in physics at William and Mary in 1967. He then worked for Exxon Company USA for 33 years. He and Lenore currently live in Richmond and have two grown children, Pamela Anne and Samuel Scott. Sam and Lenore attended the first reunion of CNC's First Decaders, held at CNU on September 16 & 17, 2011. In 2014, they also attended the 50th Reunion of Sam's CNC Class of 1964, also held at CNU.
NOTE: Mentioned also in Treakle's article "Pro Athlete at CNC" are some of the top hitters Sam faced in the minor leagues such as Orlando Cepeda (who became a major league star with the San Francisco Giants). To read the entire article, go to the website tab Chris's Crier (left margin). Open that and then the sub tab Crier Issues. Look for Vol. 2, No. 2, dated December 7, 1962. The article is on the third (last) unnumbered page.
In August of 1965, still a boy of 18, I had completed a tour of active duty in the U. S. Coast Guard and was looking forward to beginning studies at Christopher Newport College. As I recall that time, a warm melancholy comes over me, realizing that nearly all the icons of my youth are gone, and so are the instructors who so influenced me during that first year of college.
I decided to major in chemistry. Jane Byrn (photo L below) was my chemistry instructor. Years later I would pursue post graduate education at her alma mater, The University of Manitoba in Winnipeg. Instruction in botany and zoology was by Fred Brewer (middle below) . I remember his gentle and soothing southern accent. I worked in the library under Flora Gill (below R) , whom I remember as a very proper Southern Lady who showed concern for all her coworkers. The photos below are from the 1965 Trident yearbook, pages 16 and 13.
James D. (Jim) Lowell during his Coast Guard Boot Camp days. Author’s photo.
"New Math” had become the rage while I was in the Coast Guard, so I was totally lost in Algebra-Trigonometry, and Calculus with Analytical Geometry, both taught by Daisy Bright. The picture here of her helping a student (1966 Trident, page 3) is typical. Even her imposing physique could not hide the kindliness of this loving woman. I’m certain I was a beneficiary of that kindness in receiving a passing mark in both courses.
And then, there was Dr. Sanderlin, who influenced me more than any other instructor that first year. His courses in English grammar, composition, and literature (English 101 & 102) were among the most demanding courses I would ever take in college. We could be assigned to read a novel for class followed by a quiz which might ask us to recall the color of the eyes of one of the characters mentioned only in the first chapter. We were required to read and be quizzed upon material in the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, a copy of which was in the CNC library. This assignment was especially difficult for me. Unknown to me at the time, I am dyslexic, and I have always been and remain an extremely slow reader. I had to subscribe to the paper via the mail, which was not a small financial burden at that time.
Dr. Sanderlin lecturing, perhaps striking fear in the hearts of freshmen. 1966 Trident, p. 49.
A rare sight on the CNC campus: Dr. Sanderlin coatless. In or out of the classroom, he was often jovial. 1972 Trident, p. 116.
Dr. Sanderlin would not accept any excuses for late papers, some of which he detailed the first day of class. These included “that time of the month” and writers’ block. There were certain major errors on theme papers which earned students an automatic F, including any three of these in one paper—dangling participles, improper use of its and it’s, inartistic sentence fragments and comma splices. He helped me considerably in grammar, however. At some of the many schools I attended as a military dependent, I had learned English and not American punctuation. He recognized my problem and explained the differences between the two systems for me. Of all the grades I received that year, I am proudest of the two B grades I received in Dr. Sanderlin’s English classes.
Decades after that first year of college, I would visit Dr. Sanderlin in Norfolk. We reminisced over those early CNC years, swapped sea stories about our time in the service, brought each other up to date on our lives, and exchanged ideas on multiple things. I felt honored to address my former professor by his first name. We kept in contact with each other via e-mail following my first visit. I offered to drive Steve to the initial (2011) First Decaders Reunion. Steve declined, and died before the event and before I might visit him one more time. I miss him.
James D. (Jim) Lowellfirst attended CNC in 1965-66 while also serving in the US Coast Guard. He earned anRNin 1970 from the Riverside School of Professional Nursing (the first male in the RSPN program), aBSin Psychology in 1972from CNC, and anMDin 1977 fromThe Medical College of Virginia at VCU.Now retired from his medical career, Jim lives in Addison, TX, with his wife, Carol. They have four children and four grandchildren.
A recent photo of the author, Dr. James D. Lowell, M.D., provided by him.
Published again (lightly revised) on March 20, 2020.
CNC's First Asian Student:
Motokazu ("Mark") Tsugiyama
by A. Jane Chambers
(Includes material fromChris's Crier)
The first student at CNC who was from another nation was a young man from Tokyo, Japan named Motokazu ("Moto") Tsugiyama (pronounced Sue-gee-ah-ma). He arrived in Los Angeles in 1960, at age eighteen, explored America for awhile (especially Washington, DC, and the Virginia Peninsula's historical locales), lived in Buckroe with a local junior high school teacher, took an English course at Newport News High, and then attended Hampton High for a year (1961-62 session). In September of 1962, at age twenty, he entered CNC as a freshman, telling his classmates to call him "Mark."
1964 Trident portrait of Motokazu Tsugiyama, identified as "MarkTsugiyama."
Moto ("Mark") immediately joined the staff of CNC's first student newspaper, Chris's Crier, which in October published an article about him entitled "A Portrait of Mark" (Vol. 2, No. 1 [October 23, 1962], p. 3). After a short introductory paragraph, the unnamed reporter wisely let Mark himself write the remainder of the biographical article, quoted below.
In his second year at CNC (1963-64 session), Moto continued being engaged in student activities, this time working on the staff of the first edition of the CNC yearbook, the Trident. In the above photo, from page 52 of it, he is standing at the right end of the second row of students. He had to return to Japan in 1964, after his two years at our young college, but at some point he not only returned to America, as he had hoped, but remained here.
In his 1964 listing as a CNC First Decader, Moto stated that he had a successful twenty-years career in international corporate management, particularly in New York City, before going into NYC real estate. He became an agent with Prudential Douglas Elliman, which specializes in multi-million-dollar homes for the extremely rich (typical price tags: $55,OOO,OOO per home). He lives in Bayside, NY, one of the most expensive sections of Queens, and is a fine art connoisseur with an eclectic collection of 19th and 20th century paintings and sculptures. He attended our 2011 First Decaders Reunion at CNU. I found this fairly recent photo of him on the internet.
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Published March 20, 2020.
Photo ID Contest Winner:
Ten First Decade Faculty Members
by A. Jane Chambers
Above is the photograph posted on this website on November 15, 2019, in the article Photo ID Contest: Ten First Decade Faculty Members.The people in this group picture are the members of CNC's English Department and Modern (previously called Foreign) Language Department in the academic year 1967- 68. The picture (with all ten people named) is from the 1968 Trident, page 31. It was reprinted in 2008 in Memories of Christopher Newport College: The First Decade, on page 234 with only the caption "POP QUIZ: How many English and Modern Language professors can you name from this photo in the 1968 Trident?"
The winner of this contest is Charles Cook, a member of CNC's first baccalaureate class (1971), shown in the above two photos: on the left, his senior year picture in the 1971 Trident; and on the right, a recent picture taken in an art gallery in Norfolk. His winning entry, with all ten names and departments correct was as follows (underlining mine):
Back row left to right: Rita Hubbard (Speech and Communications), Ursula Riddick (English), Barry Wood (English, later administration), Martha Kerlin (English), Dr. Steve Sanderlin (English); front row left to right: Richard Guthrie (foreign languages), Dr. Joyce Sancetta (English), Jane Chambers (English, later Dr. Chambers), Elizabeth Jones (foreign languages), and Doris Reppen (foreign languages).
After earning his English degree at CNC (where he had the third highest grade point average in the Class of 1971), Charles joined the English faculty at Norfolk Collegiate, a private school, where he taught English, speech, and advanced composition (grades 7 - 12) for four decades. Along the way he also earned an M.Ed. from Old Dominion, where he was inducted into the Education Department's Honor Society. Now retired, he still lives in Norfolk.
Charles had several advantages when entering this photo contest: he attended CNC all four years, majored in English, and took courses in the Modern Language Department.
First Decaders who attended CNC in the early 1960s obviously could not do well in this contest, since half of the teachers shown were not on CNC's faculty until the later 1960s. The next Photo ID Contest will give those earlier students a chance to enter and win by featuring CNC faculty from the early half of the first decade.
Notes: Rita Hubbard began at CNC teaching speech, then housed in the English Department. In 1972 she founded the Department of Fine and Performing Arts (moving speech there), and after earning her doctorate, she founded the Department of Communication Studies. Elizabeth Jones was Dr. Jones when she was hired.
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Published December 13, 2019
Photo ID Contest:
Ten First Decade Faculty Members
by A. Jane Chambers
THE CONTEST
The ten people in the above photograph were members of two academic departments at CNC in the mid-to-latter part of the first decade. How many of them can you identify by both NAME and DEPARTMENT at CNC? Even if you cannot identify all of them, consider entering this Photo ID Contest, which is only for CNC students of the First Decade (the First Decaders). CNC/CNU faculty, staff, and administrators, and other readers of this website may not enter this contest.
HOW TO ENTER
Email me at cncmemories61_71@yahoo.com with your list (by the 2 rows) of those professors whom you can identify. Give for each person the NAME, DEPARTMENT, and LOCATION in the photograph--for example: "Row 1, left-right: 1. Mr. W (A dept), 2. Ms. X (B dept.), 3. ? , 4. Ms. Z (A dept.) & 5. ? (B dept )."Also give your name, phone number and mailing address. DEADLINE for entering the contest is December 9 at 5:00 p.m.
HOW TO WIN
The contestant who correctly identifies the MOST professors and their departments will win the contest and a PRIZE, which will be mailed to the winner's home. The name and (if possible) a photo of the winner will be posted on this website on December 13. If there is a tie, both contestants will receive a prize and also be named and (if possible) pictured on this website. If three or more contestants are tied, the PRIZE will go to the 2 contestants whose emails were dated the earliest; therefore, enter soon.
Please observe the Honor System: If you know the location of this photo, and therefore can easily locate the faculty names and departments, do not enter this contest, and do not enable another contestant to cheat.
Thank you! And Good Luck!
P.S.: We might have more contests (also with prizes) if the response to this one reflects enough interest among our readers.
The photo on the right, from page 30 of the 1966 Trident, shows CNC’s class rings for students who were candidates for the two-year (Associate in Arts) degree. This picture was first posted on this website in 2012 in our website's Memorabilia Gallery, along with this question--“Who has one of these?” and this statement: “We need some more information about these earliest rings, plus close-up photos.” Much to my delight, Ted McFalls (66 FD) contacted me in mid-December of 2012 with this good news: not only did he have one of these first AA degree rings, but also he posed for this yearbookphoto of it.
Ted McFalls and reference librarian Mrs. Anne Palmer. 1966 TRIDENT, p. 21.
Here’s the photo’s history: At the time, Ted was working part time as a student assistant in the Captain John Smith Library. As usual, he had on his CNC ring. He was spotted by a Trident yearbook photographer who was scouting the library in search of students wearing their class rings. Ted agreed to lend the photographer a hand— his hand--for this yearbook picture. He cannot remember who the young woman was that also agreed to lend hers. If you know who she is, please contact me at (757) 238-9629 or cncmemories61_71@yahoo.com.
I have found no information about the history of CNC's AA degree ring. Apparently the first ring was that for the 1964 class--identical to Ted's 1965 ring except for the year on it. I discovered a 1964 ring existed when an alumnus of the 1964 class showed me his during the class's 50th Reunion (May, 2014). The photos here of Ted's 1965 ring are mine. The lettering on the top of the ring (photo right) is typical--the school's name: Christopher Newport College. Although the ring's designer remains a mystery, the ring clearly reflects young CNC's status as a two-year branch of The College of William and Mary, as shown in the pictures below.
The design on one side (left above) features William and Mary's famous Wren Building. Above that is a monarch's crown with, on the left, the number 16 and on the right, the number 93—forming 1693, the year W&M was founded, while Virginia was still a British colony. The dominant design on the other side (above right) is that of CNC’s first seal—the shield with the outline of the Commonwealth of Virginia within it and, on the front of that, the lamp of knowledge. Above the seal, on the left, is the number 19 and on the right, the number 65, forming 1965. Below the seal is 1960, the date CNC was formally established, although classes did not begin until September 18, 1961.
A large photo of that first seal and details about its history are in our website article The Story of CNC’s First four-Year Class Ring and the Seal That Preceded It, located in our Archives tab, sub tab First Decade History.
Ted has graciously donated his ring to our First Decade Memorabilia Collection—which means, we hope, that the ring will soon be permanently housed at CNU in a rotating display at Klich Alumni House.
____________________________________________
EDWIN J. (TED) McFALLS Jr. was a member of CNC’s First Men’s Track Team and the All-Star Flag Football Team of 1965-66, both of which are immortalized in Memories of Christopher Newport College: The First Decade. Ted served in the U.S. Air Force before attending CNC. After 1966 he transferred to Old Dominion College, where he earned a BS degree in Psychology in 1969. Following a successful business career during which he owned and operated four restaurants and an air conditioning and refrigeration business, Ted retired at age 57. He is single and resides in Upper Darby, PA.
Georgia Hunter and I both taught at Christopher Newport College in its first decade, earned graduate degrees at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and were born and bred in North Carolina. We met in the fall of 1963, when I joined the English Department at CNC and she was in her third year as biology instructor. She left CNC in 1968 to teach at Hampton's first racially integrated high school, Bethel; I stayed to watch CNC grow into CNU. We reconnected by phone and email in the early 2000s, and I was pleased that in May of 2013 she and her husband, Bob, attended the two-day 50th Reunion of CNC's Class of 1963 at CNU.
Photo from CNC's 1966 Trident, p. 23.
CNC opened September 18, 1961, with a faculty of nine men and one woman--Georgia Hunter. A group portrait was made of that first faculty, but unfortunately, Georgia was not present for the event. When the Daily Press learned about her, they sent a reporter to CNC. Below is the interesting article that appeared in that publisher's afternoon paper, The Times-Herald.
I emailed Georgia's obituary to the CNC alumni and faculty who possibly knew Georgia, told them I would write this article, and invited them to send any memories of her they might want to share. Below are six responses I received in time for this publication--edited for space and titled by me.
Georgia Hunter and Her Unruly Studentby Dalton K. Blankenship
What a legacy Georgia Hunter has left! Though I did not have her as a professor at CNC, my younger brother had her when he was a student at Bethel High School. Having "turned off" to education fairly early in his school career, he wasn't really interested in performing well, but enjoyed "participating" in class. Halfway through the semester, she had had enough of his shenanigans. She said he could spend her class time in the library (his happy place) for the rest of the year and she'd give him a passing grade—if he brought her a box of chocolates. He did, he went, and she did! That was his junior year. He never returned to school.
The good news is that my brother got his GED later in life, earned a BA in English with honors (including winning "English Student of the Year" as a freshman—normally only given to a senior), and completed 18 months of graduate school in Library Science. That time in the Bethel library was truly beneficial! Thank you Georgia Hunter. You will be missed.
Georgia's Kindness and Friendshipby Ted McFalls
I met Georgia Hunter in 1961 while in the Air Force and taking classes at CNC. Mrs. Hunter was my instructor in biology. Her tough love approach to teaching aided me in learning biology, but on the personal side Georgia was a wonderful person. I was a serviceman away from home during the holidays. Georgia and Bob invited me to their home for dinner and treated me just like one of their family, sharing love and good times. This encounter developed into a life long friendship with Georgia and Bob which I cherish to this day. Georgia's passing will affect many people. My prayers go out to the entire Hunter family. God will take care of the rest .
Georgia's Traffic Ticket by Patrick H. Garrow
Georgia Hunter was my biology teacher at CNC. She had a fairly thick southern accent and was very excitable. She was given a ticket for running a stop sign one morning on the way to class and came into class in a state of rage. She railed about the officer who gave her the ticket for a good bit of the class--after admitting she had rolled right through the stop sign. I thought she was a good teacher despite her drama.
The 1961 photo above, by Lt. C. L. Tench, is from page 18 of Sean M. Heuvel's Christopher Newport University. It shows Georgia lecturing to a class in the old Daniel school building, CNC'sfirst home, located in downtown Newport News. Georgia taught there for four years, then taught at the college's new campus, on Shoe Lane, for three years.
Georgia's Southern Accentby Dave Ahearn
I remember well my first experience with Mrs. Hunter at CNC in 1964. I was in her biology class when she started talking about “sails.” I could not figure out what that had to do with biology; "sails" didn’t fit the context of the sentences she was speaking. After class was over, and in a thoroughly confused state, I asked one of my classmates what she had been talking about. As it turned out, the word was “cells.” Although I was born and raised in the south, her southern accent was much more southern than mine.
Georgia as Teacher and Person by Kathy Mooney Abrams
Mrs. Hunter taught me biology and botany and new words like "tangential," which I never forgot. I loved her. I remember her lab practicals in CNC's old building downtown. I knew she loved teaching by how she engaged the classroom. It was an experience in the large lecture hall when she taught, and I loved learning from her. She challenged our minds, which helped us grow, and I still love science. I was not familiar with her southern speech, however, like pronouncing "cell" like "sale."
I also remember her husband, Bobby. He was younger than she (and why not !!) and she was crazy about him. Georgia Hunter was definitely memorable. May she rest in peace and condolences to her family.
Georgia as Match Maker and Person by Dianne Boudreau Loftus
I enjoyed knowing Mrs. Hunter so much, even though I was not fortunate enough to have her as a professor at CNC. I loved her enthusiasm for everything and her wonderful sense of humor! My late husband, Michael, and my sister, Marie Boudreau (now Smith), were student lab assistants for CNC's biology department, and since I hung out with them during some of that time, it was then that I got to know Mrs. Hunter. She encouraged Michael to make me his steady girlfriend. He did, and later she came to our wedding.
I can still hear her southern laughter right now, in my mind. I'll say some extra Hail Marys for her family.
Hunter family photo of Georgia and Bob in 2011.
Any additional memories of Georgia Hunter sent by CNC students and faculty who knew her at CNC in the 1960s will be published on this website on February 8th--either as an Addendum to this article or as Feedback-- depending on the number of responses received.
All readers are of course welcome to send Feedback at any time. Below are our email addresses.
Shirley Fields designed the cover of the first yearbook, which approximated the College’s colors, blue and gray. The three thin stripes on the left, she says, represented the three prongs of King Neptune’s trident.
The honor of creating the first CNC yearbook goes to the Class of 1964. In a telephone interview with Shirley D. Fields (now Cooper), Editor of the 1964 Trident, I learned that the desire to have a yearbook arose from talks among a group of students who, like her, had staffed their high school yearbooks. Shirley, who had edited her 1962 Hampton High School yearbook, was chosen among this volunteer group to be their leader. They met with Director H. Westcott Cunningham, who gave his permission for the project.
An announcement that there would be a yearbook appeared in the first edition (Nov. 7, 1963) of The Captain’s Log, along with a statement that the book would be paid for by the College, with copies issued “free of charge” to all full-time students, faculty, and staff, and sold to others for $4.00 (Vol. I, Issue 1, p. 4).
Joining Editor Shirley Fields on the yearbook staff were Co-Editors Thomas Saunders and W. Daniel Burton, Jr. and ten additional dedicated students (see photo below).
Of these 13 members of the first Trident staff, one is deceased, Paul H. Keene, and 3 have not yet been located: Diana Hubbard, Sue Ann Scott, and Helen Gayle Stanley. Please help us find these 3. Photo from p. 52 of the 1964 Trident. Illustration by Shirley Fields.
Serving as faculty advisors were English professor Elizabeth B. Scott and physics professor E. Graham Pillow, both of whom had joined the faculty its second year (1962-63). Mrs. Scott left CNC at the end of the 1964-65 academic session to join her husband, who had accepted a position at the American University in Lebanon. Mr. Pillow later became CNC’s first Chair of Computer Studies, instigated the first interdependent B.S. degree, Management Information Science, and remained with the College until 1978, when he left to accept an appointment as director of medical computing at the University of Virginia.
Elizabeth B. Scott. 1964 Trident, p. 12.
E. Graham Pillow. 1964 Trident, p. 14.
Talented in art since childhood, Editor Fields provided all of the artwork for this first yearbook, beginning with the illustration on the title page (photo left) of mythological sea-god King Neptune’s crown and trident. The staff chose the name Trident (Shirley’s suggestion) for the yearbook because Neptune’s three-pronged spear was both “an instrument of power” and “a spur of the spirit,” representing “the strength that comes from the intertwining of purpose with knowledge [and] with humility” (“Symbol of the Trident,” p. 2, written by Fields).
Central on page 3 of the yearbook is Editor Fields’s drawing of a ship under full sail, above a short list of the book’s content: Administration, Classes, Activities, and Advertisements (photo left). The following two pages (4 & 5) summarize Captain Christopher Newport’s services to England. Page 4 is headed by Shirley’s drawing (see left) of Captain Newport (based on the work of artist Allan D. Jones, Jr.). Discussed here is how Newport served as the “Queen’s privateer” during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, who praised him for “his fine qualities of leadership, … dependability, loyalty, and courage,” and how he became known as “the one-armed Englishman who struck with the suddenness of a tropical storm” yet “treated his prisoners with kindness.”
Page 5 primarily summarizes Newport’s peacetime role, during the reign of King James, as “The Admiral of Virginia”—heading the Jamestown voyage, exploring and mapping the James and York rivers, returning to the colony with new supplies and people, and so forth. The essay concludes with Newport’s death in 1617 and his lasting reputation for “justice…tempered with humanity.” Shirley Fields wrote this article also, citing as her major source passages in Ancient Adventurers, by Samuel M. Bemiss.
This first yearbook was, quite appropriately, dedicated to Director Cunningham, whom the students praised for his “steadfast service” to “the students, the faculty, and the community” and called “the first and most beloved pioneer of Christopher Newport College” (see right). Although full-time students were given free copies of this first Trident, they had to pay to have their portraits made for it ($2.00 for three poses). Not all students could afford that expense, unfortunately, so the book does not fully reflect the student body present that year, especially those attending part-time or only in the Evening College. The black-and-white portraits of the sophomores (47), freshmen (108), and student nurses (29) were taken by Farabee’s Studio, which provided the traditional v-necked black drapes for the women’s photographs (no jewelry allowed) and the white tuxedo jackets, white shirts, and black bow ties for the men’s photos. The College’s administrators (5), staff (5), and faculty (18) provided their own black-and-white studio portraits, wearing business-style clothing.
The first yearbook's team leaders (L-R): W. Daniel Burton (Co-Editor), Shirley D. Fields Cooper (Editor), and Thomas L. Saunders (Co-Editor). From pages 17, 19, & 23 of the 1964 Trident
The Activities section (10 pages) recorded campus life, with photos of the Student Government Association (SGA) officers and representatives, the Trident staff, the Captain’s Log staff, and officers and members of the Circle K Club. Photos in this section were no doubt made by the Trident’s student photographers, who also provided, at the very end of this section, three pages of mostly candid snapshots of student life. Miss CNC of 1964, Sheilah Kathleen Cassidy, and her court had a two-page spread, posing in their formal gowns and long white gloves. Their photos look rather professional. There were no sports pictures, since there were apparently no organized sports that year. To see more pictures from this first yearbook, as well as some from the 1965 Trident, go to our School Pictures tab, subtab 1964-1965 (left margin, top of this page).
Although the 1964 Trident was a modest-sized book (8” wide by not quite 11” long), with only 59 pages of text and photos, plus 21 pages of advertising, it is a document of great importance in the history of CNC. That it was initiated by the students shows the strong attachment—if not, indeed, love—that these early first decade students felt toward their small college. That CNC’s leader not only sanctioned the creation of a yearbook, but had the College’s treasury almost fully finance it, reflects Director “Scotty” Cunningham’s practice of whole-heartedly supporting virtually every project the students advanced. And that the book had such a large number of advertisements underscores the Peninsula community’s strong pride in and support for the young school which it considered to be its college. Those fortunate enough to own copies of this first CNC yearbook possess a small treasure.
SHIRLEY D. FIELDS COOPER "proudly attended" CNC 1962-64.She then earned at ODU a BA in Math ('67) and a Certificate in the School of Engineering-Computer Science ('81) . Shetaught math, science, & physics in Hampton(1968-70), York Co. (71-83), & Gloucester (1993-2003) and was Coordinating Principal ofVictory Academy, in Gloucester, 1993-2003. She retired from teaching in 2003. She also held elected office 23 yrs. on the YorkCo. Board of Supervisors and was a Representative in the VA Gen. Assembly & a member of theNat’lBicentennial Comm., 1974-81. Her husband, Ned Cooper, an electronics technician at NASA, died in 2003. She has two married sons and two granddaughters.
Note: Some of the material in this article appeared originally in “The First Student Publications: Chris’s Crier and the Trident,” by Jane Chambers, in Memories of Christopher Newport College: The First Decade, 1961-1971, by A. Jane Chambers, Rita C. Hubbard, and Lawrence Barron Wood, Jr. (Hallmark Publishing Co., Inc., 2008).
We welcome your FEEDBACK. Send to
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Published January 10, 2014
Republished September 28, 2018
Rah! Rah! Rah!
for CNC's
First Decade Cheerleaders:
Part 1
1968 & 1969 Squads
by A. Jane Chambers
Co-captain of CNC's first cheerleading squad, Mary Fowler (later Scott), in the 1968 Trident, p. 40.
Christopher Newport College had no official cheerleading squad until the 1967- 68 academic year, when a major leap forward in CNC's sports programs occurred, made possible by the opening of Ratcliffe Gymnasium and the addition of Coach Bev Vaughan, who started the men's basketball program. It was time then to form a cheerleading squad.
Although I had no experience whatsoever in cheerleading, I agreed to be the cheerleaders' sponsor. My first task was to help pick the young women who would be the first cheerleaders. I well remember the tryouts. A group of us, teachers and athletic staff, sat in the bleachers and watched small groups of contestants demonstrate their cheerleading skills, each wearing a number. After some time, thinking all of the contestants were equally skilled, I turned to my colleague Barry Wood and whispered, "What criteria are you using to pick the winners?" He softly chuckled, raised both hands up toward his shoulders, then made two large semicircles with them as he dropped them to his waist. Male criteria.
Posed above in the center of Ratcliffe's main basketball court are the ten young women chosen to be CNC's first cheerleaders, only five of whom I have been able to locate and document--on row 1, Linda Gray (later Creekmore); and on row 2, Mary Malone (later Price), Mary Fowler (later Scott), Marian Donnelly (later Shadrick), and Patty Berkey (later English). The co-captains of this first squad were (middle, standing) Mary Fowler and (middle, kneeling) Kathy Green. Mary was also a co-captain the following year (1968-69) and Kathy a co-captain the next two years (1968- 69 & 1969- 70). Unfortunately, I believe that Kathy is deceased. Patty (orPatti) Berkey, standing at far right, was also on the 1968-69 squad. Please contact me atcncmemories61_71@yahoo.com if you can help locate Brooke Fancher, Selma Hunley, Frances Bass, or Sandy Steward.
My second task as sponsor was helping pick the material for the cheerleaders' uniforms. I vaguely remember meeting someone, maybe Lillian Seats, at some store somewhere on the Peninsula to pick out the material, which was something that required dry cleaning. I have no idea, however, who designed the uniforms and their logos or who made the uniforms, which were blue and white.
CNC had only one state vehicle, a 4-dr sedan that could seat six, so transportation to and from away games required using personal vehicles. Coach Bev Vaughan and Accounting professor Don Riley were always among those driving some of the basketball players in their cars. I often drove cheerleaders to and from games in my silver-blue Mustang like the one in this photo (right). It would only hold four passengers, however.
Like the 1968Trident, the 1969 Trident devoted one full page (p. 89) to the cheerleaders. However, there were individual photos of each of the nine young women. Three had also been on the 1968 squad--Kathy Green, Mary Fowler, and Patty (or Patti) Berkey. Mary and Patty are documented. Two more on this squad have also been located and documented--Karen Morgan (later Forrest) and Kathy Haynes ( later Rhody). I've recently lost contact with Kay Johnson (Hogan). If you can help locate her and/or Nancy Ames, Betty Bugg (later Lambiotte), orDiana Cooper, please contact me atcncmemories61_71@yahoo.com.
The photo left above showsKathy Green in her second year as cheerleader co-captain. I have never found her and have heard that she is deceased. In the middle is Karen Morgan (later Forrest), who served as cheerleader in 1969, 1970, and 1971. On the right is Mary Fowler in her second year as co-captain.
To my knowledge, Nancy Ames (left picture) cheered only this one year. I am in contact with Kathy Haynes (middle), who married FD Chip Rhody. Patty Berkey (right) is also documented; 1969 was in her second year as cheerleader.
I hope someone can help me reconnect with Kay Johnson Hogan (left), who was on the cheerleading squad all four of her years at CNC: 1969 - 72. Years ago I heard that Betty Bugg (middle photo) married someone named Lambiotte, but I have been unable to locate her. Nor have I found Diana Cooper (last photo).
Part 2will feature the1970 Cheerleadersand theBlue Goose.
By the 1969 - 70 academic year CNC was transitioning from a 2-year to a 4-year college, with a junior class taking upper-level courses. Some of the women who were on this 1970 squad would therefore be members of the college's first (1971) or second (1972) baccalaureate degree classes.
Shown left above is co-captain Kathy Green (later Smith), serving her third year as cheerleader and second as co-captain of the squad. Sadly, Kathy is now deceased. Above middle is Karen Morgan (later Forrest), serving her second of three years as a CNC cheerleader. Both Kathy and Karen earned their 4-year degrees in 1971. On the right above is co-caption Kay Johnson (later Hogan), in her second of four years as cheerleader. She was in the 4-year class of 1972. I've lost contact with Kay.
Above left is Linda Watson (later Ritenour) and in the middle is Sandy Hughes (later Deans), both of whom were in the second (1972) baccalaureate class CNC. Both were also cheerleaders this one year. On the right is Candy Hixson (later Whitley) in her first of two years as a CNC cheerleader. She was in CNC's 4-year class of 1975. I have lost contact with Linda Watson Ritenour.
I have not been able to locate these last four squad members. Linda Lackey (left) and Janie Riley (right) were both on this 1970 squad and the 1971 squad. Janie was a co-caption in 1971. Please contact me if you can help me find Linda or Janie.
Becky Crenshaw (left) and Pat Thompson (right) also have not yet been located. To my knowledge they were cheerleaders only this one academic year. Please contact me if you can help me find Becky or Pat.
BLUE GOOSE
By this time the college had a bus, which Director Cunningham got from the state surplus in Richmond for $500 dollars, so we faculty volunteers no longer had to drive team players or cheerleaders to and from away games. The used bus was painted blue with "Christopher Newport College" white lettering on each side. In his essay "Setting the Sail: Launching the Men's Basketball Program," Coach Bev Vaughan wrote:
We thought the transportation issue was settled—until the first cold night when we realized there was no heat beyond the second row of seats. Some of us, including Jane [Chambers], never sat beyond the range of that heater on cold nights.
That bus, called the “Blue Goose,” was in the state maintenance shop more often than it was on the road. Nobody knows the origin of the name “Blue Goose.” Maybe it reminded people of Howard Hughes’s “Spruce Goose,” which was plagued with mechanical problems from the beginning. Or maybe it was named that because it left us blue with cold.
One of the first drivers of the “Blue Goose” was accounting professor Don Riley. Don was an extremely careful driver, but, oh, did he drive so very slowly. We often kidded him about his slow driving. Someone once said if we had a game with ODC in Norfolk, it would be a two-day trip, with an overnight stay at the Strawberry Banks Motel!(Memories of Christopher Newport College: The First Decade,, pp. 122-123).
If you have memories of riding in the Blue Goose or being a CNC cheerleader, please contact me at cncmemories61_71@yahoo.com. Please contact me also if you can help me connect with any of these former cheerleaders--Kay Johnson Hogan, Linda Watson Ritenour, Linda Lackey, Janie Riley, Becky Crenshaw, and/or Pat Thompson.
Obvious in the top photo are the new blue and white uniforms that the 1971 cheerleaders wore, which showed a lot more leg than had the earlier uniforms. A quick look at Parts 1 and 2 of this article shows the gradual shortening of the skirt length of the original uniform. The 1971 cheerleaders also wore the old uniform too, but with the skirt shortened, as is evident in photo 2 below. There was also a change from white turtleneck sweaters to white blouses. Two other changes were from the blue knee high socks to shorter white socks (showing more leg) and from white tennis shoes to black and white saddle shoes.
Above left is Linda Lackey in the original uniform with shortened skirt. She has not yet been located. The middle photo shows co-captains Kay Johnson (later Hogan) in her third year, and Janie Riley (sadly, now deceased) in her second year of cheerleading. I think Kay is the one seated. The military-like insignia on the left arm of the standing woman suggests she is Janie, who had completed one year of cheerleading in 1970. Kay no doubt had 2 such marks for her two previous years. On the right is Candy Hixson (later Whitley), also in her second year as cheerleader. I don't know why she has no insignia.
On the left above is Debbie Melo, who is not yet located. In the middle is Karen Morgan (later Forrest), in her third year as cheerleader (note the two-year insignia). And on the right are two more women not yet located, Dianne Epperson (standing) and Renee Reese, who apparently was the first black cheerleader at CNC.
Above left is Kathy Weeks, another former cheerleader not yet located. To the right are (left) Suzanne Cicero, also not yet located, and (right) Pam Sanderson (later Duncan). Suzanne and Pam, plus four other members of this squad--Candy Hixson, Kay Johnson, Debbie Melo, and Janie Riley--were also members of the college's first sorority, Pi Kappa Sigma, as was Nancy Ames, who was on the 1970 squad.
All photos above are from the 1971Trident, pages 72 and 73. Please contact me atcncmemories61_71@yahoo.com if you can help me locate the following 1971 cheerleaders: Kay Johnson Hogan (who has apparently moved), Linda Lackey, Debbie Melo, Dianne Epperson, Renee Reese, Kathy Weeks, and/or Suzanne Cicero.
For reasons known only to the staff, the 1972 Trident's coverage of the cheerleaders was very inadequate. In contrast to the two-page spreads in CNC's previous yearbooks, with all squad members shown and identified, in the 1972 Trident there were only fivephotos of the cheerleaders--two on p. 61 (shared with 7 action photos of men's basketball) and three on p. 62 (along with one basketball photo). Most disappointing is the lack of identification of any of the cheerleaders.
Obvious in the above photo is that the 1972 cheerleading squad had a new uniform--with a skirt even shorter than that on the new 1971 uniform. Visible under the folded up bleachers is the small trampoline we saw the 1970 squad using (see Part 2). Maybe it was still part of the cheerleading routine. Or maybe not.
The unidentified cheerleader left above is sporting a new monogram, although neither here nor elsewhere in this small group of pictures do we get a complete view of it. Her unidentified team member on the right is wearing the cheerleader uniform introduced the previous year. We can't quite see the monogram on it either.
These last two pictures are together because I believe the same cheerleader is in both photos and that she is most probably Kay Johnson(later Hogan). Notice that this cheerleader is wearing matching barrettes in her hair (photos left & right). More importantly, notice the insignia on her left sleeve (photo right), which shows that she was a CNC cheerleader the previous three years. It is a documented fact that Kay Johnson was the only CNC cheerleader in the first decade who was on four consecutive squads (1969 - 1972). She received her bachelor's degree at CNC in 1972.
Please contact me (email below) if you can help locate any of the cheerleaders whosenames are in red in this 3-part article. Thank you, and I hope you enjoyed this series.
The waterfront statue of John Smith dominates the site of the first permanent English settlement in America, and our Newport News university is named for Christopher Newport, admiral of the fleet of the three small ships that landed at Jamestown and captain of the largest, the Susan Constant . So why does Preservation Virginia, which owns Historic Jamestowne, consider Bartholomew Gosnold, commander of the second largest ship, the Godspeed, to be the "prime mover of the colonization of Virginia"?
Likeness of Bartholomew Gosnold based on his remains. Internet photo.
Archeologist William M. Kelson with Captain Gosnold's remains on display in Jamestown.
Jamestown Rediscovery, "committed to supporting preservation, education, and the archaeological investigation of Historic Jamestowne," notes that "the first settlers at Jamestown" knew how important Gosnold was to the venture, but his "contributions to the establishment of the colony have been minimalized because he died, at age 36, on August 22, 1607"--the fourth month after the landing--from a fever. Therefore, his "legacy remained obscure until 2002, when the Jamestown Rediscovery Project recovered the probable final resting place" of his remains. Forensic analysis proved the skeleton was that of a European male, five and a half feet tall, who died in his mid-thirties. Signs the man had been a person of high status included metal fragments from a wooden coffin and from a captain's staff at his side (Jamestown Rediscovery).
In his 1624 Generall Historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer Isles, John Smith called Gosnold "one of the first movers" of the Jamestown settlement. More accurately, however, Gosnold was the "prime mover" of that event, which was his second attempt at colonizing North America. In March of 1602, commanding the ship Concord, with twenty colonists and a dozen crew members, he had sailed to New England. On May 14, 1602, his ship anchored off a peninsula that Gosnold named Cape Cod, because of the abundance of cod fish. After exploring the cape, he named the large island there Martha's Vineyard--Martha in memory of his deceased daughter and Vineyard because of the island's numerous wild grapes. For various reasons, that venture failed, however, and the Concord returned to England with a cargo of local sassafras, "valued principally as a supposed cure for syphilis" (Encyclopedia Virginia).
Back in England, where he was ridiculed by many for that misadventure to New England, Bartholomew Gosnold recruited friends and relatives willing to undertake a second attempt at colonization in North America. The photo at the right shows the exterior of his ancestoral home, Otley Hall, a moated manor house in Suffolk built around 1400. Here Gosnold probably met often with his cousin, Edward Maria Wingfield, and others who formed the nucleus of the London Company and were destined to be prominent members of the Jamestown settlement, including John Smith and Christopher Newport. The group, headed by Gosnold, eventually recruited forty participants, most of them the younger sons of gentry families and six of them Gosnold's relatives (Encyclopedia Virginia).
The three ships that set sail from London on December 20, 1606 were captained, in order of size, by Newport, (the Susan Constant, the largest and lead ship), Gosnold (the Godspeed), andRatcliffe (the Discovery, the smallest ship). In his Diary, Gosnold described his "Deare Godspeed" as "Ruler of the seas, with her mightyfulle velocitie more veloce than the wynd, and mightyer than the rocke" (Wikipedia). Shown left is the Jamestown replica of the Godspeed in New York City's harbor. Captain Newport was the admiral of this small fleet and Gosnold the vice admiral. Why was Newport in charge, instead of Gosnold, who was the leading man in organizing this voyage? Encyclopedia Virginia states that decision was probably "for political reasons." However, more likely the decision was based upon Christopher Newport's having far more experience in commanding voyages than did Gosnold.
The colonists landed at the place they named James Fort on May 14, 1607. A letter from the Virginia Company was then opened, which listed seven men, including Gosnold, as members of the ruling Council of Virginia. These seven picked Wingfield as their president, and the settlers approved that choice. However, many of the colonists quickly resented Wingfield, " an older career military man whom they viewed as overly dictatorial." But they "most respected and admired Gosnold," whom they saw "doing his utmost to ensure the settlement's sucess"-- including "helping to design the fort, exploring and mapping the nearby territory, prospecting for minerals, and scattering an Indian attack by firing the Godspeed 's cannons" (Encyclopedia Virginia).
He was buried, we now know, just outside the west wall of the fort. Colonist George Percy wrote that the burial included a gun salute, "with many volleys of small shot," and Gosnold's cousin, Edward Maria Wingfield, described him as "a worthy and religious gentleman ... upon whose life stood a great part of the good success and fortune of our government and colony" (Jamestown Rediscovery). His grave is now marked by a stone cross and a marker with an inscription, shown below.
JR1046B Burial of a European man, estimated age mid-thirties,
interred with a captain's leading staff.
This is likely the grave of Captain Bartholomew Gosnold,
the "prime moving" force behind the "plantation" here at Jamestown.
Commencement 1965 in the Lecture Room of Newport Hall. Far left:Jim Windsor (dark suit) and Scotty Cunningham (back to camera). DEGREE RECIPIENTS (standing, not all visible) are in reverse alphabetical order and identified from right (aisle) to left. First row (R-L):Tom Witty, Ellen Wirt, next probablyCharles E. Watkins, Jr., Gayle Stanley (now Walters), next probablyFred Smallwood, deceased, & Pat Shaughnessy (now Morrell).Second row (R-L):Gwen Seidler (Stevens, deceased), Jennifer Riley (now Watson), Jean Regone (now Henry), then probablyDavid Rabinowitz], next probablyAlexander Phillips, deceased, and Ray Pepe (with glasses).Third row (R-L): PattyMoore (nowSchwarzman), Ed Mirmelstein, Glenn Lawson, next probably Sally Krym (now Dafashy), then hidden people (probablyPat Hemeter, now Spriggs, & Jack Harrison, Robert Gray, then probablyKathie Scott Fitzgerald, & (half-hidden, with glasses & at curtain, Ben Ellis. Fourth row:Behind Patty Moore is (quite likely) Irene Christofi (now Leopold), then (probably) Rick Bennett & John Bane. Photo from Christopher Newport University, by Sean M. Heuvel (Arcadia, 2009), p. 23.
The first (June 6, 1963) and second (June 4, 1964) formal* Christopher Newport College commencement exercises were held in the third floor auditorium of the old Daniel School building on 32nd Street in downtown Newport News, which served as the temporary home of the young College, then a two-year branch of The College of William and Mary. Until 1971, CNC offered only the Associate in Arts degree. The small number of degree recipients shown on these programs from 1963 – 1970 was in part a consequence of there being no requirement to have a 2-year degree to transfer from CNC to William and Mary or any other state college and in part a reflection of the College’s high academic standards, equal to those of William and Mary.
The class of 1964 was the first for which we have a photo of its commencement, held in the Daniel school building. Judge Forrest B. Wall is shown giving the commencement address. Degree recipients visiblein ROW 1 (right of the aisle) are (L-R)Michele Miller (now Meadors), James Samuel (Sam) McIntyre (both verified) and (probably) Margaret Jane (Janie) McHugh (later Gebhardt), Charles Milton King, & Paul Waverly Hogge. McHugh, King, and Hogge have not been located, but were identified by 2 classmates & name placements on the Commencement Program. On ROW 2, behind King & Hogge is Kenneth G. Smith (verified). (Photo from Christopher Newport University, by Sean M. Heuvel (Arcadia, 2009), p. 22).
These first two Commencement Exercises are courtesy of First Decader couple Claude and Karen Graeb Stanley (Classes of, respectively, 1963 and 1964). The 1963 program is unique not only in being the first, but also in marking a major event. Local artist Allan D. Jones, Jr. had recently been commissioned by the City of Newport News to create a mural in the West Avenue Library depicting the Jamestown Landing of 1607. The central figure in this mural was tobe, of course, Captain Christopher Newport, leader of that expedition. During Commencement 1963, a black and white ink drawing of Captain Newport—a “cartoon” (meaning “sketch”)—was presented to CNC. This ink drawing by Allan Jones was displayed there for decades, but like many other early CNC historical items, it has since disappeared. However, beginning with the first issue of the first Captain’s Log(Nov. 7, 1963), this sketch of Captain Newport, hook on his right arm, was included in the masthead of the student newspaper for decades. In 1970, it was also the model for the College’s second seal and original four-year ring, both designed by student Kenneth Flick (B.A., 1972).
The Class of 1965 was the first to have its commencement on the Shoe Lane Campus, in the Lecture Room of Christopher Newport Hall, the first building on the campus. This class was also the first Shoe Lane class for which we have a photo (above, top) of its commencement. As usual, James C. Windsor, by then Dean of Students, presented the degree candidates and Director H. Westcott (Scotty) Cunningham awarded the degrees. The reception was in the Arcade, the open-air, roof-covered area connecting the main part of Newport Hall with the Lecture Room and, across from it, the room then housing the Library. Commencement for the 1966 class was also in Newport’s Lecture Room, but the reception was held in Gosnold Hall, CNC’s second building, in the Student Lounge directly across from Gosnold’s Lecture Room, identical to Newport’s. The Class of 1966 was also the first to have musical entertainment, provided by the College Choir. The above programs were provided by Robert W. Gray (1965) and Charles Snead (1966).
NOTE: Beginning at least with 1965, there were August Commencementsalso, and at some later point, Winter Commencements as well. However, to date, Commencement Exercises for these have not been located. If you can help provide any programs from these, please contact our website.
The 1967 commencement (program above, provided by Jane Briggs Matney) was also held in Newport’s Lecture Room. This class was the first to have a processional and recessional, with the CNC Choir providing the music. That year and the next two, the College’s first Dean of the Faculty, W. Stephen Sanderlin, Jr., presented the degree candidates rather than Dean James C. Windsor, and more high profile people served as commencement speakers—for example, Parke S. Rouse, Jr., Director of the Jamestown Foundation, in 1967, and William and Mary’s President Davis Y. Paschall in 1968. Commencement 1968 (program above provided by Nelson D. Baer) was the first graduation ceremony held inside the recently completed Ratcliffe Gymnasium, with the Tactical Air Command Band from Langley Air Force Base providing music for the processional, recessional, and a musical interlude. This commencement was followed by a dedication of the recently completed Captain John Smith Library and a presentation to the library of a portrait of Director Cunningham, followed by a reception in the library (see below article).
The above Daily Press article, with two photos, is from Saturday morning, JUNE 8, 1968, and fully describes both the previous (June 7) Friday afternoon commencement exercises at CNC and the following dedication of the recently opened Captain John Smith Library, which also included presentation to the library of an oil painting of H. Westcott Cunningham. Vera Knez England recently found this article inside her 1968 Trident yearbook. We are delighted to add it to our collection of CNC memorabilia.
A first for members of the Degree Class of 1969 was having their diplomas handed to them by Davis Y. Paschall, President of William and Mary, rather than by Scotty Cunningham. Also reflected in this program (provided by Susan Wood Frith) is Cunningham’s recent promotion by William and Mary to Provost of CNC rather than Director. The speaker this June was another important person in CNC’s history, John H. (Jack) Willis, Jr., Assistant Vice President at William and Mary and that college’s liaison to CNC. The Reception was again, as in 1968, in Smith Library. The Degree Class of 1970 (program provided by Tim Hester) was the last to graduate under the leadership of H. Westcott Cunningham, who recently had been promoted to President of our College. This class was also the first to be presented for degrees by CNC’s second Dean of the Faculty, H. Marshall Booker. Note that the Reception was held in the recently opened Wingfield Hall, the third classroom building on campus. Six in this class were at the junior level when awarded the 2-year degree and completed the 4-year degree at CNC in 1971—Martha Gustin, Tim Hester, "Mac" McGlaun, Ronald Mitchell, Martha Muguira (now deceased), and Cheryl Wolfe.
A new era began with Commencement 1971, to be the subject of another website article. Stay tuned!
*CNC's first A.A. degree was awarded to Lois Wright on June 8, 1962, in an private service in the Office of Director Cunningham, with Lois’s parents present. Lois was one of 13 students who enrolled the opening year, September 1961, as sophomores and the only one to earn the degree. See her interesting essay “The Graduating Class of One” in Memories of Christopher Newport College: The First Decade, pages 182-185.
Editor’s Note:Army Lt. Richard D. Bahr was the first CNC student known to have lost his life in the Vietnam War. He was killed in action on March 7, 1968. Wade Williams was the first recipient of the Richard D. Bahr Memorial Athletic Award, given annually in his memory to the full-time varsity letterman possessing the highest GPA. More details and photos regarding Ric Bahr are in Wade’s earlier essay, Remembrance, Remorse, Reflection, located in our Website Archives, under the subtab Your Memories.
“Don’t make him out to be more than he was, Wade” was the mild admonishment I received from Jim Verser as we shook hands and departed. It had been a most fulfilling two days I had spent with Jim, an ordained Presbyterian minister and family counselor from New Jersey who had been Richard Duncan Bahr’s best friend. After reading my Remembrance, Remorse, Reflection essay on theCNC First Decaderswebsite, he had sent me a letter and we had arranged to meet and talk about Ric during Jim’s 50th Warwick High School reunion weekend.
When I picked Jim up at his motel, he immediately produced a treasure trove of photos, newspaper clippings, and memorabilia I wish I had had access to before I wrote “Remembrance” --including a sterling silver letter opener he received as a groomsman at the wedding of Ric and Becky Burgess, used daily for the last 45 years to open his mail, and a peace bell on a chain, worn around his neck in memory of his best friend. We drove to the Warwick Restaurant, a landmark since the fifties for a late breakfast. Robert Brooks, a teammate on the Warwick High Track Team with Ric and Jim, joined us, and over 50 years were brushed aside as I had the privilege of learning all about Ric Bahr.
Best frIends Ric (L) and Jim (R) in their Warwick track uniforms. From "Warwick, Typhoon Renew Track Feud," Times-Herald Sports, May 15, 1961, p. 13. Courtesy of Jim Verser.
Groomsman Jim (L) and Groom Ric (R) at the wedding of Ric and Becky Burgess, Dec. 21, 1966, in the Chapel of the Centurion, Fort Monroe. Courtesy of Jim Verser.
Bride Becky's photo in the DAILY PRESS, Dec. 22, 1966, p. 20. Courtesy of Jim Verser.
Jim and Ric met in the sixth grade when Ric’s father, an air traffic controller, was transferred from New York state to Newport News. The Bahrs were originally from Bar Harbor, Maine. I learned of the open door policy at the Bahr and Verser houses, of the father who taught the boys to play baseball and football using balls made of socks; of Mrs. Bahr’s, a vivacious, beautiful woman, ritual of eating supper by candlelight; of the nightly fireside chats, weather permitting, where stories were shared and memories made; of forts built in the woods, rope climbing and rope swings over creeks; of the nearly daily wrestling matches where Ric always prevailed, but Jim refused to accept the daily outcome; of the teenage years when Jim did all the driving because Ric didn’t have his license until after high school. Had it not been for double-dating with Jim driving, Ric would have enjoyed a sparse social life.
Both ran track at Warwick High, which in the fifties and sixties was one of the top five teams in the state. As in their backyard wrestling, Jim could never beat Ric running. I learned that Ric placed fourth in the state championship in the 440. Also, when I learned that Ric was a sprinter who ran cross country and middle distance events because the team needed him there, I felt even closer to him, because I too had been an athletic duck out of water. At CNC, I was a sprinter who ran distance because the team needed me to and a former high school football player without a college team to play on.
After high school, the best friends went their separate ways, Jim to St. Andrews College and then William and Mary; Ric to UVA, then CNC. Becky, who was soon to marry Ric, went to DukeUniversity. Ric was a quick study who got by on uncanny academic potential but his lack of daily focus was his undoing at UVA and later CNC, the latter being a surprising academic buzz saw for the unprepared, unmotivated or unfocused, as many of us First Decaders would discover. After CNC, Ric’s father refused to finance any more academic undertakings. Rick did not wait for the draft but volunteered for the Army. After basic and officers’ candidate training, he and Becky were married. He was wounded in Vietnam and spent ten days on leave in the Philippines with Becky in 1967. He was then killed in action in Vietnam in 1968.
Newspaper photo with headline about Ric's death. Source unidentified. Courtesy of Jim Verser.
Ric's obituary, DAILY PRESS, March [8 or 9?], 1968. Courtesy of Jim Verser. CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE.
Ric's medals, from The Virtual Wall. Vietnam Veterans Memorial. CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE.
After two days of Jim Verser’s sharing his life with Ric and a 2½ hours’ breakfast on the second day with Ric’s high school track coach Jim Hubbard and former track teammates Dr. Frank Brown, Robert Brooks, and several others, I found the thread that sums up Ric Bahr: he never wanted to disappoint his loved ones. To avoid disappointing Jim after a rare hangover in high school, he begged Jim’s mom, a registered nurse, to help him but to keep it from Jim because “He would be so disappointed.” His volunteering for the Army was an attempt to rectify his academic failure and his father’s disappointment as well as a means of providing for Becky, the love of his life, while she excelled in college. She would go on to earn a Ph.D. in English and have a career as a college English professor. His “hurricane runs” with Jim in high school, conducted after major storms in that period, were also devoted to helping people along the way overcome the ravages of the storm to their property, a means of alleviating the despair and disappointment of strangers. His unexpected all-state performance in the track championships was motivated by his coach’s disappointment in the overall performance of his team that day. However, the greatest disappointment for Ric’s loved ones was one he could not control—his death.
Jim recalls the day in March of 1968 when he received a call at the Newport News Detention Center, where he then worked, informing him of Ric’s death. He left work crying, hopping on one leg (having sustained a broken ankle) and drove to the grieving Bahr household. The closed casket funeral was held at Mount Carmel Catholic Church. During those turbulent times, Jim developed anti-war sentiments fueled by the death of his best friend and by years spent at seminary deeply involved in anti-war protests. It was at one of those protests that Jim received a peace bell emblem on a neck chain that he wears daily in memory of his fallen loved one.
Jim’s accomplishments include being a Presbyterian minister and a Hebrew scholar, and having a family counseling practice. Jim is a brilliant man who doesn’t wear his brilliance on his sleeve. A man in his late sixties who looks fifteen years younger, with salt and pepper hair and full beard, impeccably groomed, with shining, intuitive, kind eyes, more attuned to listening than to talking. When we parted, he took my hands in both of his and implored me not to make Ric out to be “more than he was.” I didn’t have to, Jim. Despite his short-comings in his short life, Ric was, is, and always will be a wonderful young man who has touched so many lives and continues to do so. I will always say hello for you, Jim, every Memorial Day, as I visit Ric's grave in the Hampton National Cemetery.
Wade Williams (1968 First Decader) had an outstanding career in both teaching and coaching, starting at Ferguson H.S. (Newport News). Next he was head track coach and assistant athletic director at VMI (Lexington) for 11 years (1974-86), then head track coach at ClemsonUniversity (Clemson, SC) for 3 years. Afterwards he returned to teaching high school English and coaching high school track and football, serving at Warwick H.S. (Newport News) and then Western Branch H.S. (Chesapeake). He retired with 44 years of exemplary service in education and athletics at the collegiate and public school levels. He and his wife live in Portsmouth, VA.
Wade Williams as student at Hargrave Military Academy. Yearbook photo from family collection.
Wade Williams, 2006 photo from family collection.
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Published 2014
Republished May 25, 2018
CNC's First Shoe Lane Building:
Christopher Newport Hall
(1964 - 2008)
by A. Jane Chambers
Glued to page 5 of CNC'S second yearbook, the 1965 Trident, is the above photo of Newport Hall. Those who own copies of this yearbook--with this photo and also a color photo of professor Usry, to whom the yearbook was dedicated (p. 10)--possess a rare gem. Not only is there no other CNC yearbook with color photographs, but also, to my knowledge, there is no other professional color photograph of the first building on the Shoe Lane campus of Christopher Newport taken the year of its completion.
Ground was broken for Newport Hall in January of 1964. Local architect Forrest Coile, Jr. designed the brick building, for which he developed a distinct style he called "contemporary oriental," which he would use also for CNC's future buildings. Local builder J. M. Jordan & Co. completed construction in 9 months, so that it was ready for use when the fall semester opened in early September (Memories, p. 16). The 24,000 square-foot building cost $320,000 (Serving, p. 48).
The above artistic rendering of Newport Hall is from the inside of the front cover of the college's first yearbook, the 1964 Trident, published while CNC was still in downtown Newport News, in the old Daniel building. Evident in this picture is the arrangement of the building into three parts--two one-story units in the front, and a much larger two-story unit behind them--the three connected by a covered breezeway with a slate floor.
The left front unit housed CNC's library from fall 1964 until fall 1967 and was staffed by library director Bette Mosteller, acquisitions assistant Jean Garner (later Barger), andcataloging assistant Lorena Elder (later Smith). Jean and Lorena were early CNC alumnae. Although small, this first Shoe Lane library was a popular place for students to study (photo left below, from Memories, p. 159). All of the bookcases and library shelves for it were built by CNC's first building and grounds superintendent, the multi-talented Mike Cazaras.
When the Captain John Smith Library opened, this Newport Hall unit then became the home of the college bookstore from 1968 until completion of the original Campus Center building in 1973. The bookstore manager was Jackie Haskins, shown above right with CNC's first business manager, Tom Dunaway (photo from Memories, p. 158). Jackie inherited Mike's bookcases and shelves, of course.
The right front unit was a lecture hall with theater-like tiered seating for slightly over 200 people. It was used for everything from faculty meetings and biology lectures to dramatic productions and graduation ceremonies--and more. Many assemblies were held here, including several commencements. Frances Kitchen's Dramatic Workshop students staged plays here, including the first three-act drama at CNC: Archibald McLeish'sJB, in 1966, with the lead role played by student Charles Milne, who decades later would become Dean of the Tisch School of Performing Arts at New York University. And I remember teaching freshman English to Riverside nursing students here when classroom space was scarce.
The photo left above (from Memories, p. 37) shows then-Director H. Westcott (Scotty) Cunningham addressing incoming freshmen at their Orientation in the lecture hall. Notice the not-so-comfortable seats, which had pull-up desks hanging from their sides. The exit with steps and landing visible here had its twin, the room's entrance, on the opposite side. The other photo (from the 1965 Trident, p. 78) shows students performing in that some room at a musical event called a Hootenanny.
The photo below, from CNU's Archives, was taken in the lecture hall on June 4, 1965, during Spring Commencement. Facing the 27 A.A. degree recipients are (left) James C. (Jim) Windsor, then student personnel officer, and (back to viewers) Scotty Cunningham. The women degree recipients are wearing white dresses; the men, dark suits with white shirts and dark ties. Notice the closed drapes at the windows--used to block out sunlight. Why? Because there was no air conditioning in this room. Both of these one-story units had groups of tall narrow windows, with louvered crank-out window panes (see photo two above) that let in almost no air. All three units of Newport Hall were built to be air conditioned; however, no funding for that cooling would be available until 1968.
The largest and most important part of Newport Hall was the two-story classroom building behind the separate lecture hall and library (later the bookstore). The above photo, which shows that building from the back, looking toward the original library unit, is from Memories, p. 18 (reprinted from the 1966 Trident).
Newport's classroom building was connected to the front units by a covered breezeway with a floor of rectangular black slates. In the middle of the breezeway on each side were brick units with inset cement benches. The photo left below, from the 1966 Trident, shows part of that breezeway behind some students. The right photo, from Memories, p. 71 (reprinted from the 1968 Trident), shows a student studying on one of the benches. None of the students in these two pictures have been identified.
The 1964-65 academic year at CNC was novel. Because there was not yet a science building (Gosnold Hall, which would open in Fall 1965), on some days students taking both science courses and humanities courses had to travel back and forth between midtown (Shoe Lane) and downtown (32nd Street) Newport News, because their science classes and professors were in the Daniel building, whereas their other classes and professors were in Newport Hall. The class schedule had to be set up to allow for 30 minute travel breaks between these classes. Also, until the Smith Hall and Library complex opened (Fall 1967), all of the administration and library personal and offices had to be housed in Newport Hall too. Consequently, Newport Hall during the 1964-65 session virtually was the college.
When it opened, the two-story building meant to house only classrooms and professors' offices was thus a chameleon. The first floor temporarily housed the Registration and Admissions Office (headed by Nancy Ramseur), the Business Office (headed by Tom Dunaway), the Director's Office (Mr. Cunningham and secretary Edna Carney), and the Student Personal Office (headed by Jim Windsor). These administrators, with their staffs, filing cabinets, and offices, took up all of the back side of the building's first floor.
On the opposite, or front, side of the hallway the rooms meant to be classrooms temporarily served various functions. One room housed the Peninsula Art Association (PAA), which would later become the Peninsula Fine Arts Center (PFAC). The photo left, from Memories, p. 16, shows two unidentified PAA members with Scotty Cunningham. In the summer of 2020, CNU plans to open a $50.5 million Fine Arts Center that will be the new home of both its Department of Fine Arts and Art History and the Peninsula Fine Arts Center (PFAC).
Another room on this same side of the first floor housed the Student Lounge, with snack and soft drink machines and tables and chairs. I think student clubs shared a third room along with student publications (the Trident yearbook and the Captain's Log newspaper). Restrooms for men and women were left and right of the row of "classrooms" on this side of the floor, facing the staircases to the second floor.
In 1967, when the administrative and student personnel people moved into their new home, Smith Hall, the space they had occupied in Newport Hall became the college's first Computer Center, headed by Graham Pillow, shown right working at his keypunch machine (1969 Trident photo, p. 25). Because these first computers, unlike people, could not tolerate humid conditions, the Computer Center became the first place in Newport Hall to be air conditioned--and Graham's popularity increased accordingly. People stopped by to see him on especially hot and humid days.
The politicians in Richmond were very pleased that Newport Hall was relatively inexpensive to build and maintain, as would be the additional buildings designed by Forrest Coile Jr. and constructed by W. M. Jordan. The first floors in all of these were made of black slate embedded in cement (outside breezeways and entrances) and (inside)Terrazzo--a half-inch mixture of tinted cement combined with chips of marble, glass or other aggregates spread over a concrete slab. These floors were easy to clean and indestructible. The photo left, with Nancy Ramseur and Barry Wood, (1966 Trident)shows the Terrazzo floor in Newport Hall, plus another cost-effective feature there and in the other Coile buildings: interior cinder-block walls.
I spent over 25 years on the second floor of Newport Hall, which had classrooms on both sides in the middle and eight double-occupancy faculty offices at the ends (4 per end), plus restrooms. My corner office, next to the women's restroom, was room 209. I shared it at various times with Jean Regone (later Henry), then Martha Kerlin, and lastly, for many years, Burnam MacLeod. Except for the metal filing cabinets and the wooden bookcases built by Mike Cazaras, CNC's supervisor of buildings and grounds, all of the furniture in all of the offices and classrooms in Newport Hall was made by prisoners from the state penitentiary in Richmond. Virginia both saved and earned money from this arrangement. These sturdy, heavy desks, chairs, and tables of blond wood were built to last forever too.
The photo here is from Memories, p. 79 (reprinted from the 1966 Trident). Studying at one of those study desks in an empty Newport Hall classroom is Wade Williams ('68), not identified until after publication. Places to study in Newport included the small library, the student lounge (usually noisy), temporarily empty classrooms (scarce), and--at least for women--the second floor women's restroom, which included a cot. A modern touch in the classrooms was green chalkboards instead of the traditional black.
All of the windows in Newport had black marble sills deep enough to serve as bookshelves. The windows were fixed, however, with small transoms at the bottom that opened inward only inches. The building was designed to be air conditioned, but money for that luxury was not approved until 1968. There were also no curtains, drapes, blinds or shades on any of the windows, adding to the serious heat problem in four or more months of the year during the first three years of the building's use. Today's public schools close if the air conditioning doesn't work. CNC never closed.
SOURCES:
The cost and square footage details of Newport Hall are from p. 48 of Phillip Hamilton's Serving the Old Dominion: A History of Christopher Newport University, 1958-2011(Mercer Univ. Press, 2011). All other information in this article is from my personal knowledge and/or Memories of Christopher Newport College: The First Decade, 1961-1971, by A. Jane Chambers, Rita C. Hubbard, & Lawrence Barron Wood Jr. (Hallmark Publishing, 2008).
This photo and all others in this article are from the 1968 Trident.
A major leap forward in sports programs occurred at CNC in the academic year 1967-68, made possible by two major events in the Fall Semester: the opening of Ratcliffe Gymnasium and the addition of two athletic coaches, Bev Vaughan (men's basketball) and Jim Hubbard (men's track). The variety of intercollegiate and intramural sports available for both male and female students expanded significantly, as shown in the 1968 Trident, which devoted 17 pages (50-67) to sports, plus a full page each to the first cheerleaders (p. 40) and the first Women's Recreational Association (p. 82).
RATCLIFFE GYMNASIUM
CNC's first gymnasium, which cost some half-million dollars (in today's dollars, $3.75 million) was named after Captain John Ratcliffe (1549 - 1609), one of the founders of the Jamestown Colony in 1607. He captained theDiscovery, the smallest of the three ships in the fleet led by Captain Christopher Newport (1561-1617). CNC's first building on the Shoe Lane campus was named after Newport (who commanded the lead ship, the Susan Constant) and its second building afterCaptain BartholomewGosnold (1571-1607),who captained the Godspeed.
Ratcliffe Gymnasium included offices and classrooms as well as men's and women's lockers and two gymnasiums: one that could seat up to 1000 people and another, much smaller, that was used only by women students. These were often called the "Men's Gym" and the "Women's Gym." In addition to sports practices and events such as basketball games and indoor track meets, Ratcliffe's larger gym was also used for events such as commencements and class registration periods each semester. Both gyms were also used for required physical education classes for all students.
COACHES HUBBARD and VAUGHAN
Jim Hubbard (above left) and Bev Vaughan (right) both came to CNC in the 1967-68 year. Both were hired by then-Director "Scotty" Cunningham, and, like Cunningham, were William and Mary alumni, with B.S. and M. Ed. degrees. Cunningham and Vaughan both worked for W&M before coming to CNC, Cunningham as W&M's Dean of Admissions and Vaughan as instructor and assistant coach of men's basketball.
In his essay "Of Track Shoes, Golf Balls, and Athletic Supporters" (Memories of Christopher Newport College: The First Decade, pp. 110 -117), Jim Hubbard tells us that while he was teaching and coaching at Warwick High School, in Newport News, he heard that CNC was building a gymnasium and looking for a track coach to replace Raoul Weinstein, who wasleaving the area. He applied for the position and was immediately hired as track coach and instructor and chairman of the newly created Physical Education Department. In Vaughan's essay "Setting the Sail: Launching the Men's Basketball Program"(Memories of Christopher Newport College, pp. 116 - 124), Bev tells us that when he was completing his first year of teaching and coaching at W&M, Scotty Cunningham phoned him and asked if he'd like to beCNC's first basketball coach. He also taught physical education as part of his contract.
Having the gymnasium and these two male coaches gave CNC an impressive leap forward in male sports. As the title of his Memories book essay reflects, Coach Vaughan "launched" the men's basketball program. He created CNC's first intercollegiate men's basketball team (photo above)-- doing everything from recruiting and coaching the 15 players (without benefit of any athletic scholarships) to ordering their uniforms and equipment, buying the ticket rolls, and getting Mike Cazares to create a homemade scoreboard. The team lost its first game, played at Ratcliffe against Fork Union Military Academy (Dec. 5, 1967), and had a rocky first year (8 wins and 11 losses), but grew steadily in skills and talent in subsequent years, eventually having sold-out seats under Vaughan. Although intercollegiate men's track began at CNC with Coach Raoul Weinstein, that sport grew significantly under Coach Hubbard, and in addition to outdoor track and cross-country teams, he launched the first indoor men's track team at CNC.
Another first that year was the first cheerleading squad, posing above in Ratcliffe Gymnasium. Cheerleading was not yet considered a sport, so the Trident put it on a page of its own (p. 40) instead of within the Sports section (pp. 50 - 67). Although I had no experience of my own in cheerleading, I was picked to be the cheerleaders' sponsor. CNC did not yet have a bus, so players and cheerleaders had to go to and from the away games by personal cars. My 1966 silver blue Mustang was a popular choice, but could hold only 4 of the 10 cheerleaders.
Assistant Professor Lillian Seats formed the first intercollegiate sport for women that fall: field hockey. Title IX had not yet happened, so there were no "store-bought" uniforms, just white blouses and gym class skirt-shorts, paid for by the players. In the following school year (1968-69), Biology Professor Jean Pugh would coach the first women's basketball team. Dr. Pugh paid "a little old lady in Gloucester" to embroider "CNC" and team numbers on the players' blouses. Neither team won any games its first year, but time would bring improvements.
INTRAMURAL TEAMS and GROWING SPORTS CHOICES
Intramural sports at CNC began almost as soon as the College opened in the old Daniel School building. For example, the students had a bowling league by the second year (1962-63). A Daily Press photograph dated May 7, 1963 shows the best team, the Parasites, holding trophies for highest league scores, awarded at a banquet held in Vic Zodda's and paid for by professor Robert M. Usry. The Student Government Association (SGA) and, by 1965-66, the newly formed Student Athletic Association (SAA) played major roles in the steady growth of intramurals, which sometimes crossed over into something like intercollegiate status, as when, for example, in 1966 CNC defeated ODC 28 - 8 in a flag football match. In 1967-68, student John Morris started the move for the first men's intercollegiate tennis team. Morris also became CNC's first Director of Intramurals.
Intramural teams continued to thrive in 1967-68, with flag football still popular (photo above), but soon losing its number one spot to men's basketball--football having only 2 pages to basketball's 4 in the Trident. With the opening of Ratcliffe Gymnasium, however, along with increased use of adjuncts, CNC was able to offer students more choices of activities than before. Also, by requiring students to fulfill 4 credits of physical education courses, the pool of potential athletes grew.
In her essay "Women Made It Happen: Building the Women's Sports Program" (Memories of Christopher Newport College, pp. 102 - 109), Dr. Mary Lu Royall describes how The Women's Recreation Association (WRA), formed by Lillian Seats in 1968, greatly increased participation in women's sports. The WRA (photo above) had a point system enabling members playing individual and team sports to earn awards and letters in field hockey, basketball, gymnastics, bowling, volleyball, softball, badminton, archery and golf (p. 104). Added also to women's choices was modern dance, taught by adjunct Mrs. O'Connell (photo below).
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Published February 2, 2018
CNC's First Sorority:
Pi Kappa Sigma
by A. Jane Chambers
with information and photos from
CNC's first PKS sisters
and Trident yearbooks of 1971 and 1972
Photo of PKS members the second year of its existence at CNC. 1972 Trident, p.55
Greek life at CNC began in the Spring semester of the academic year 1969-70, a time when CNC was transitioning from a 2-year to a 4-year institution. The first fraternity, Chi Psi Omega (CPO),* and the first sorority, Pi Kappa Sigma (PKS), sprang to life almost simultaneously. Both Greek organizations were initiated by students, some of whom were juniors looking forward to being among those in the first CNC class to receive baccalaureate degrees, in Spring 1971. Original PKS member Candy Hixson Whitley recalls, "A group of us started [PKS] in Terry Gooding's living room." Dr. Ruth Mulliken agreed to be the sorority's sponsor.
The 1971 Trident devoted 2 full pages each to the fraternity (pp. 46 & 47) and to the sorority (pp. 48 & 49) and printed for each a list of officers, brief summaries of the first year's activities, and both group and action photos. Unfortunately, however, the above group photo of the sorority (PKS) shows 21 members but gives only 16 names--alphabetically. Readers can't tell who is who. Since the 1972 Trident photo was better in quality and identifications, I chose it to headline this article.
Although the fraternity was able to rent a modest house off campus for meetings and social events, the sorority had to hold such events primarily on campus or at members' homes. The color photos above and below, courtesy of PKS member Pamela (Pam) Vaughan, show a few such meetings. The 1971 CNC classroom scene shows (L-R) members Janie Riley, Kay Johnson (later Hogan), and Debbie Mello. I am guessing that Kay is being gifted with flowers since her marriage would have been about this time. The other picture shows Linda Watson at a Candle Ceremony at her home.
The above two April 1972 photos were also made in a member's home. Notice that bell bottom jeans and long straight hair were quite fashionable. In the first photo are (L-R) Linda Watson, Debbie Breault (in yellow with back to camera), Janie Riley, someone unidentified (blond in red with back to camera), Kay Johnson (later Hogan) , Joy Beard (later Schank), Beth Brannan, and in the foreground, Pam Sanderson (later Duncan). The second photo shows (L-R) again Janie Riley, Kay Johnson (Hogan), Joy Beard--plus Kathy Lovell, someone unknown, and Lynn Walker (later Brothers). Sadly, Debbie Breault and Janie Riley are deceased.
The group picture at the beginning of this article shows some of the Pi Kappa Sigma women wearing the sorority's jacket, which was navy blue with red Greek letters--the official colors of PKS. Dinah Murphy Everettsent this picture of it.
If the women of PKS continued to be as active at CNC as they were that first year, they were a busy bunch indeed! According to page 48 of the 1971 Trident , PKS's college and community activities included awarding a two hundred dollar scholarship to a CNC student for the 1971-72 session, in memory of CNC history professor Robert Madison Usry (died Spring semester, 1971), donating clothing for patients at Eastern State Hospital in Williamsburg, and donating fruit-filled Easter baskets for patients in the Veterans Administration Hospital in Hampton--all of which required fund-raising work. The sorority also engaged in such social functions as school dances, beer blasts, pool parties, and a banquet for the graduating seniors.
PKS members who received their baccalaureate degrees in the historic Spring 1971 class included Dinah Murphy Everett, Mary Fowler,Terry Gooding, Kay Johnson Hogan, Lynn Walker Brothers, and Cheryl Wolfe Chisom. Two others completed their bachelor degrees in the second 4-year class, 1972: Carolyn Cocke Stallings and Pamela Vaughan.
Several of the sorority women were married during or shortly after their time at CNC and shared that event with their PKS sisters. Dinah Murphy Everett sent the above picture from her wedding (March 27, 1971). Celebrating with the bride were (L-R) Mary Fowler (later Scott), Cheryl Wolfe (later Chisom), Linda Gray (not in PSK), Linda Watson, Dinah, Lynn Walker (later Brothers), Janie Riley, Terry Gooding, Kay Johnson (later Hogan), and (maybe?) Kathy Lovell.
That CNC's two first Greek organizations would interact socially was inevitable, resulting in close friendships and even, in a few cases, marriages. For example, Candy Hixson and boyfriend David Whitley (later her husband) attended numerous CPO fraternity parties, developing lifelong friendships with fraternity members. Also, first CPO treasurer (then president) Doug Duncan married PKS member Pam Sanderson; they are still married four decades later, as are Roman and Melinda Schenkkan.
Life has a way of separating people from each other. Careers, marriages, children, relocations--these and other natural circumstances often create unintended distances between us and people once close to us, and/or between us and the institutions once central in our lives. However, some members of CNC's first sorority--like some members of its first fraternity--have remained in close touch with some of their 1970s Greek siblings, and for some, Christopher Newport is still an important part of their lives.
* A June 9, 2017 article on Chi Psi Omega is located in our Website Archives, under the subtab First Decade History.
"While our beautiful campus has changed over the years,
Scotty's values and vision are always evident."
CNU President Paul Trible
They came from Maryland and northern Virginia--three generations of Cunninghams--to witness and participate in this CNU milestone: the naming of the university's Welcome Center to honor the memory and historical importance of Christopher Newport's first president, H. Westcott ("Scotty") Cunningham (died 2007). The above photo, taken in front of a portrait of Scotty located in the Center, shows (L-R) Sean and Meg Miller (son-in-law and daughter of Ann Cunningham Stachura), Andrew Davis (Ann's son), Cecil Cary ("Cecy") Cunningham (Scotty's widow), Mel Stachura (Ann's husband), Ann Stachura ( Cecy and Scotty's daughter), and the two sons of Todd Cunningham (Cecy and Scotty's deceased son), Todd Cunningham, Jr. and Jack Cunningham. Unable to attend was Ann's other son, Scott Davis. With one exception, all pictures in this article are official CNU photographs.
Several hundred people gathered on Friday afternoon, December 1, 2017, on the second floor of the new Newport Hall for the joyful event of the naming of the Cunningham Welcome Center. The two Cunninghams who spoke were Mrs. Cecy Cunningham (above, at the podium) and daughter Ann (beside her). The audience stood and applauded loudly when Cecy came to the podium. "I am so pleased about the Welcome Center," she said, "and also delighted to return to a place that holds such happy memories for me." She thanked Paul and Rosemary Trible for "planning this wonderful tribute."
Shown above are (L-R) Paul Trible, Cecy, Ann, Rosemary Trible, and Scott Millar, Rector of CNU's Board of Visitors. In his speech, President Trible noted that "While our beautiful campus has changed over the years, with new buildings and programs emerging in support of the remarkable students who call Christopher Newport home, Scotty’s values and vision are always evident."Explaining the purpose of the Welcome Center, he said also that"We want every individual who visits this campus to be reminded of Scotty’s life of significance and his many contributions to our success." During his speech, President Trible recognized the First Decaders and me and we were applauded.
The other CNU speaker (far right above) was alumnus Scott Millar ('85), Rector of CNU's Board of Visitors. “Earlier this year, we opened the doors to the Gregory P. Klich Alumni House," he began, "a place that honors our history and serves as a marvelous spot for all of our alumni to gather when they return home. Today, we honor our history again and name our official welcome center, which greets thousands of future Captains each year, after our first leader and our first Captain.” Appropriately, Scotty Cunningham, who commanded a PT boat in the Pacific in World War II, retired from the Naval Reserves at the rank of Captain.
This photo especially shows the beautiful gold lettering behind the Welcome Center's desk and a few of the numerous holiday decorations in the very large room. The centerpiece dominating the room was a huge Christmas tree, part of which is visible in the next picture.
In the foreground above (L-R) are Rosemary Trible, Cecy, and Paul Trible. The white-haired and white-bearded gentleman very far left is not Santa, but well-known lawyer Bobby Hatten, who is the nephew of Barry Wood. Among the many guests were emeriti faculty including Barry Wood, Ron Mollick, and Mario Mazzarella. Some of our CNC First Decaders I saw there were siblings Cecelia and Sonny short, Ellen Wirt, Corky Brooks, Wayne Rammell, and Jan Clarke. I'm sure there were more among the large crowd.
Posing with the Cunningham clan in this photograph are (far L) Paul and Rosemary Trible and (far R) Rector Scott Millar, who is related to professors Al Millar (deceased) and Marshall Booker. The portrait of Scotty behind them is at the entrance to a large auditorium, behind this central room, used for occasions such as orientation for incoming freshmen. At some point, every CNU student enters this Cunningham Welcome Center. Now, none of them can attend CNU without learning about its founding president.
Before the 3:30 Welcome Center celebration at Newport Hall, the Cunningham family visited CNU's Klich Alumni House, which most had not yet seen. Hosted by members of CNU's Alumni Relations Office, family members particularly enjoyed seeing the Cunningham Memorabilia on exhibit there, including Scotty's dress naval uniform, academic regalia, and, in a display case, many photographs and other interesting items. Standing beside the exhibit are (L-R, front) Sean and Meg Miller (Ann's daughter and son-in-law), Cecy, Ann and, in the back, Andrew Davis (Ann's son) and Mel Stachura (Ann's husband).
Cecy is shown above pointing to one of her favorite color photos of Scotty and her during their years at what was then CNC. The materials in this display were all donated to CNU by the Cunningham family, along with numerous documents from Scotty's decade at CNC (1960 - 69) that have not yet been fully catalogued.
This was Cecy's second visit to the Alumni House, and once again, she enjoyed time at the piano with Kenneth Kidd, CNU's Student Body President, who is also an Alumni Relations Office Intern. The two enjoyed singing together while Kenneth played a few of her favorite songs. Thanks to Kenneth for providing this lovely photo of Christopher Newport's First Lady and himself.
It is appropriate that the Cunningham Welcome Center is located in the second building at Christopher Newport that is named Newport Hall (photo above). The first Newport Hall, completed in 1964--now but a memory--was the first building on the "New Campus," called by some the "Shoe Lane Campus" or "Shoe U." The Center is on the second floor of Newport. To visit it, take the building's elevator and turn left when you exit at floor 2. Straight down the hall you will enter the very impressive Cunningham Welcome Center. Ask also at the desk to see the auditorium. And before you leave Newport Hall, ask for directions to Klich Alumni House--also well worth your time.
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Published December 8, 2017
Golden Anniversary December 16:
Tom and Joanne Hochheimer
by Miss Marple
CNC First Decaders J. Thomas Hochheimer ('65) and Joanne Clark Hochheimer ('66) celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on December 16, 2017. Tom posted the above wedding photo on Facebook, along with this comment: "Fifty years ago, we made the best decision of our lives together. It's been a fabulous ride, and gets better every year." The recent photo is also from Facebook. Tom and Joanne reside in Waterloo, SC. I trust they will be pleased to see this item here.
Published December 22, 2017
1961-62 Times-Herald Article
about CNC's First Lady:
Cecil Carey Cunningham
by A. Jane Chambers
Article provided by
Ann Cunningham Stachura
The content in this undated Times-Herald article, recently located among Ann Cunningham Stachura's family treasures, indicates that this article was written the first year that CNC was opened, 1961-62. At that time, Newport New's Daily Press printed two newspapers: the Daily Press (mornings) and the Times-Herald (afternoons). The reporter, Phyllis Wallace, is identified at the article's beginning as the newspaper's "Women's Writer," which meant she wrote articles only about and for women. Segregation of the sexes was still strong then, so newspapers had sections called "Society" or "Women's News.
Webmaster Ron Lowder has made this newspaper article more readable by copying it in four pieces. Above is the text. One noticeable trait of "women's" articles half-a-century ago was providing details of the subject's physical appearance. Mrs. Cunningham is described as "the attractive newcomer," "the slim dark-haired" woman, and "the petite" lady. Of course, all of these phrases described her quite accurately then--and still do. However, in a Daily Press article on Mr. Cunningham written about the same time (1962), there are no such physical descriptions of him. *
The reporter interviewed CNC's First Lady at the Cunningham's Newport News home in Brandon Heights, even giving the address. In this century, I don't think home addresses of prominent people are generally given to the public like this. People felt safer in their homes in the 1960s.
One significant detail missing in this article is Cecil Carey (Cecy) Cunningham's being, like Scotty, a graduate of The College of William and Mary. Did the reporter assume that her female readers would not be interested in such a fact? Or did it simply not occur to her to ask about her subject's academic background? The article quite naturally includes Scotty's connection with William and Mary as both student and administrator. Maybe Cecy was too polite to mention her educational connection as well.
Above is the complete article reassembled. I hope you enjoyed reading this piece of early CNC history as much as I did.
*The website article1962 Interview with a Renaissance Man:H. Westcott Cunningham, located in WEBSITE ARCHIVES, subtab First Decade History, prints this most interesting and informative Daily Press article.
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Published November 24, 2017
A Salute to CNC’s First Decaders
Who Served in the Military
REVISED
By A. Jane Chambers
November 11 each year is Veterans Day, a time when we Americans remember and thank our men and women who have served, or are now serving, our nation in the military. When documenting CNC’s students of the first decade (the First Decaders), I have asked each about military service. I now have a list of 118who served in the 1960s or later and expect to add more names as we locate more First Decaders. The list includes military branches and ranks at the times of leaving service.
Of those on my list, 106have been located and documented.Forty-four served in the ARMY, 31 in the NAVY, 18 in the AIR FORCE, 11 in the MARINE CORPS, and two in the COAST GUARD. Over a dozen people have not yet been located, however. This article names those veterans and asks you to help locate them.
Thirty First Decaders served in Vietnam, where one, 1stLt. Richard Duncan (Ric) Bahr,*was killed in action (KIA) and several others were wounded. My brother Bob also served there, in the Air Force, at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, near Saigon. Our other First Decader KIA was Major John Patrick (Pat) Giguere,*a Cobra pilot who escaped death in Vietnam only to be shot down later (1983) in the Grenada Invasion.
Some of our First Decaders (FDs) served overseas in other locations, as did my other brother, Tom, who remembers freezing while guarding aircraft in Goose Bay, Labrador, at the same time brother Bob was sweating while loading Agent Orange onto planes in South Vietnam. Other FDs served on the home front. Some served 2 or 3 years; others served 2 or 3 decades. ALL should be thanked and honored.
A few of the returning veterans who attended CNC in the latter sixties formed a Veterans Club, which began in the academic year 1967-68. The only record we have of them that year comes from this informal picture and brief article (above) in the 1968 Trident (p. 80). Unfortunately, since last names are missing in this photo, it has been impossible to determine the identities of almost all of these men. We ask for your help in naming and locating them.
There’s no record of a veterans club in the 1969 Trident. However, in the 1970 Trident, the large photograph above shows and names the 12 men and one woman in this group and also provides additional information about what the club did. The following HAVE been located and documented: Mike Beard, Steve Franklin, Paul Fisher, Vincent McGuira (deceased), Roman Schenkkan, and John Walker. Can you helpus find the others in this photo? There are no further articles about or photographs of this club in the later Tridents(1971 and 1972).
* Ric Bahr is the subject of two essays by Wade Williams, located in our Website ARCHIVES under the subtab YOUR MEMORIES. A 2-part tribute to Pat Giguere is also in our website ARCHIVES under the subtab FIRST DECADE HISTORY.
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Published November 14. 2014
Revised and Republished November 10, 2017
CNC's First Intercollegiate Sport:
Men's Track:
Part 1, The Beginning
by A. Jane Chambers
Intercollegiate sports began at CNC because a small but enthusiastic group of former peninsula high school athletes wanted to start a track team. CNC was in its fourth academic year, 1964-65, with only one building on its new campus on Shoe Lane, Newport Hall, and no gymnasium or track. Nevertheless, CNC's Dean of Students, Jim Windsor, and Director, Scotty Cunningham, approved the students' plan. CNC math instructor RaoulWeinstein agreed to be their coach, and Ferguson High School agreed to let them use its 1/5th mile track, across the street from CNC.
Raoul Louis Weinstein. 1966 Trident, p. 27.
The newly-born team was fortunate to have Weinstein as its coach. A former track star at Newport News High and the University of Richmond, he was also a fine teacher--intelligent, articulate and disciplined. History is fortunate also that Christopher Newport's first track coach also kept a scrapbook that includes 55 items detailing the first three years of CNC's track history. Most are newspaper clippings, still readable despite being half-a-century old. Webmaster Ron Lowder will be placing all of this material on a CD soon and giving a copy to CNU's 1961 Historical Preservation Club.
Above is the first newspaper article in Weinstein's scrapbook. Like many of these, it does not have the name or date of the paper. However, Coach Weinstein placed these clippings from Newport News' newspapers--the Daily Press and the Times-Herald--in order of publication and the articles often include dates. The last paragraph of this first article names three of the teams' major members and their high school track achievements: Bob Deans and Jim Moore (CNC's co-captains, distance racers and sprinters) and Bob Artman (CNC hurdler; deceased, 2000). Artman also created the first CNC athletic letter design for the letter sweaters awarded to the team its opening year (photo below).
Photo courtesy of Bob Deans.
CNC's track coach Jim Hubbard, in his essay "Of Track Shoes, Golf Balls, and Athletic Supporters," lists the others on Weinstein's first track team (based on information from Bob Deans) as Mike Payne and David Ahearn (high jumpers), Jack Harrison (shot put, discus, and javelin thrower), Ted McFalls (pole vaulter), and relay runners Dave Hall, Herminio Cuervo, Perry Depue, and Buz Vohringer (Memories of Christopher Newport College: The First Decade, p. 111).
Listed additionally in newspaper clippings in Weinstein's scrapbook and/or in the program for the Colonial Relays of April 10, 1965, held at William and Mary, were students Harry Bennett, Norman Blankenship, David Dwyer, Mike Gordon, John Scull and two students listed by last names only: Lake, and Malami.
Bob Deans recalled, in Jim Hubbard's above-named essay, that "this was a time of athletic Spartanism at the College." All of the track team's home meets had to be held on Ferguson's track, and without a gym, the team's members had "no lockers, no showers, and no storage facilities. They dressed out in any available boiler room or men's rest room. After meets, they had to change back into their street clothes and go back to wherever they lived to shower. And they had to store their equipment, which was meager, in a closet in the boiler room of Newport Hall" ("Of Track Shoes," in Memories, p. 112). For the earliest meets, the team did not yet even have CNC uniforms.
The new team's first meet was on Saturday afternoon, April 3, 1965--a triangular meet held at the Newport News Shipyard Apprentice School's Athletic Field. The team faced the Apprentice school and Frederick Military Academy. Before the meet, young Coach Weinstein was twice interviewed by sports writer Hank Maloney. It was clear that Weinstein did not have high hopes for this first event. In the article "Christopher Newport to Debut In A's Triangular Track Today," he told Maloney that "We're anxious to do well but probably won't accomplish much early in the season."
To no one's surprise, CNC came in last in that first meet. However, co-captain Jim Moore won the College's first track victory, in the mile race, and co-captain Bob Deans finished third in the 440 relay. The next morning's Daily Press (Sunday, April 4, 1965) featured the above photos of (left) Moore crossing the finish line and (right) Deans in a close third in the 440.
Weinstein faithfully recorded every meet in his scrapbook--loss after loss that first year in meets with William and Mary's freshmen team (the Papooses), the Apprentice School (the Builders) Chowan Junior College, and freshman teams at the University of Richmond and East Carolina College.
Co-captains Bob Deans (L) and Jim Moore (R) consult with Coach Weinstein before a meet. Daily Press Staff Photo by Ed Streeky.
The one victory of that first season was on April 20, in a dual meet with Frederick Military Academy, held on Ferguson's track. The newly named CAPTAINS won 68-62. The entire College was elated. Coach Weinstein recalled decades later the "That next day, the guys walked around campus like they had won the Olympics." Bob Deans wrote that "Some of the coeds initiated a cookie sale that raised enough money to purchase a plaque to give to the team's outstanding member, Jim Moore, and Mr. Usry organized and paid for a banquet to honor the team" ("Of Track Shoes," in Memories, pp. 111-112).
Since CNC did not have a bus until the 1967-68 academic year, its first intercollegiate team had to travel to and from away meets by car pooling. Bob Deans described how those riding with pole-vaulter Ted McFalls "often found they were riding on the wild side. An Air Force veteran, Ted drove like he was flying a plane, and he would never slow down for that railroad crossing on Oyster Point Road, which at that time was a great big hump on a two-lane road, a lot worse than that crossing on Harpersville Road. When Ted hit those tracks, everyone held on for dear life--one hand gripping the seat and the other, out the window, gripping Ted's pole, which was tied to the side-view mirror and the door handles. Amazingly, that pole always arrived intact for the meets" ("Of Track Shoes," p. 113).
In many ways, that first year of CNC's Track Team was also a ride on the wild side. Stay tuned for Part 2 of this series.
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Published August 18, 2017
CNC's First Intercollegiate Sport:
Men's Track.
Part 2, Ups and Downs
by A. Jane Chambers
The second year of CNC's first track team, academic year 1965 - 66, was a mixture of highs and lows, positives and negatives--reflected in the 18 articles for that year in Coach Weinstein's Scrapbook--3 articles from CNC's Captain's Log and 15 from Daily Press morning and evening papers.
Both the Log and the Daily Press predicted a stronger year than the first one. Returning were four lettermen: distance runner and sprinter Bob Deans (co-captain again), high jumper Mike Payne, pole vaulter Ted McFalls (see above photo) and high jumper David Ahearn. The above Captain's Log article described the freshmen joining them as "Bright Prospects": Lee Abrahamson, State Low Hurdle Champion his senior year at Ferguson High (now deceased); Wade Williams, sprinter and middle-distance runner (and co-captain); Joe English, high jumper; Terry Minnick, shot put and javelin; Bill Corba, broad jumper; and Bob Webb, distance runner.
The Daily Press article "Weinstein's Captains Look Better In Track" stated, "More strength and depth in the running events should make Christopher Newport stronger in this second season," even though "graduation of John Harrison and Henry Bennett leaves some gaps in the weight picture."
In its first meet, March 22, at Wilson High in Portsmouth, the Captains lost a close battle with Frederick Military Academy by only 5 points (75-70). The Daily Press article "Captains Set 5 Marks But Lose Track Meet" pointed out that Abrahamson, English, Hutchko, Ray, and Williams achieved "five record performances." A pattern emerged in this first meet that was to continue throughout the season: individual victories but team losses.
The undated Captain's Log article above states the Captains had 8 first place wins in that meet. The article also gives the team's schedule and names many additional members. Three of them were located several years ago: Norman Blankenship, Wayne Rammell, and Les Pendleton. These two are deceased: Don Lake and John Dyksen (misspelled once as "Syksen"). The part about a February match is confusing, unfortunately.
Another positive that year was that the team had what the first Log article overstated as a "Varsity Dressing Room with Lockers." In his March 27, 2015 essay on this website, Wade Williams wrote that Mike Cazares, CNC’s maintenance man, "built clothing racks in the boiler room of Newport Hall that served as the team’s locker room" ("A Tribute to Raoul Weinstein: Teacher, Coach, Mentor").There were still no showers, however.
1966 Trident photo of Mike Payne on the Ferguson High School runway. No picture has been found of the asphalt track built at CNC.
Bob Deans, in Coach Jim Hubbard's essay, "Of Track Shoes," wrote about another plus that year: " Mr. Baldwin, president of the Peninsula Asphalt Company, donated material for a 140' long and 3' wide runway for the track team to use for pole vault, triple jump, and broad jump events. He didn't donate the labor, however, which had to be supplied by Coach Weinstein and his team. They were not too good at laying that asphalt, so the runway ended up rivaling a ride at Busch Gardens" (Memories of Christopher Newport College, p. 113).
On the downside, the team's second season was marked by injuries and weaknesses in certain areas, as first recorded in the following article, written after the second meet and before the third.
By late April, as the Captains faced the season's second meet with Frederick Military Academy, the list of injuries had grown considerably. In "Injury-Hit Christopher Newport's Trackmen Host FMA at Ferguson," the Daily Press reported that three athletes would not be able to perform: Abrahamson, suffering from an infected ankle; Deans, sidelined with a pulled muscle; and McFalls, still out with that bad ankle. The hero of that April 26th home event at Ferguson was "Iron Man" Wade Williams, shown here in an excerpt from a 1968 Trident photo on p. 61.
Near the end of the season, Larry McCoy, of theCaptain's Log, wrote a fine summary of the team's performance that is worthy of being included here.
At the season's end, CNC history professor Robert M. Usry continued a tradition he started the first year of CNC's first intercollegiate sport. He again sponsored (paid for) a banquet for the team. Part 2 of this series ends with the following Daily Press photo for that year from Coach Weinstein's Scrapbook. Stay tuned for Part 3, covering season 3 and reflections from Weinstein.
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Published September 1, 2017
CNC's First Intercollegiate Sport:
Men's Track.
Part 3, A Blind Runner
and Weinstein's Memories
by A. Jane Chambers
Even with only ONE dual meet victory in my three years
of coaching, there were moments of victory by an
individual here, and a relay team there,
that made it all worthwhile.
Raoul Weinstein
A Daily Press article in Weinstein's Scrapbook headlined "Captains' Track Coach Weinstein 'Questions' Own Sanity In Light of Program's Obstacles" stated the team's handicaps: no campus track, no showers, no scholarships. But it pointed out the team's progress: a victory over Frederick Military the first year and a seventh place finish in the State college freshmen track meet the second year. So there was hope for more progress the third year.
Returning lettermen for the third season were distance runner and javelin thrower Wade Williams, high jumper Joe English, and 440 & 880 runner Mike Finnerty. Joining these Captains were freshmen Keith Kahle (long jumper & pole vaulter), Bob Beard (shot putter), Allan Sorrell (sprinter), Bill Smith (hurdler), Don Seymore (distance runner), Bill Leong (880 runner), Mike Riebe--and a blind distance runner: John Dunnavant.
Before the season opened, the Times-Herald published the following upbeat article (Oct. 25, 1966), which also focused much attention on the blind student-athlete, Dunnavant (misspelled "Donavant"). Wade Williams remembers running the track with John, their little fingers linked as Wade kept him in his lane. Although John never won a race, he was an important morale booster for the team and students.
The pattern of team losses balanced by individual wins continued this third season, reflected in several articles in Weinstein's Scrapbook. For example, after the Captains' April 11, 1967 loss to Chowan (89 - 51), the Daily Press headline was "Kahle Gains Double Win Despite Loss." The article noted that Keith Kahle won both the broad jump and pole vault events and that Joe English won the triple jump and tied for first place in the high jump. And after the team was badly beaten by Old Dominion's freshman team on April 26 (94-30), the Daily Press headline was "English, Kahle Shine Despite Captain's Loss." Sports writer Norman Covert opened by describing the Captains as "Outmanned," but then stated English won the high jump and triple jump, while Kahle set a school record in the pole vault (12'3") and was 2nd in the broad, high, and triple jumps.
A major disadvantage for the team was that Wade Williams was "sidelined indefinitely with a knee injury" early in the season ("Kahle Gains ... Despite Loss" article). This injury knocked Williams out of competition for the rest of the season, hurting the team seriously, as had previous team members' injuries in the second season.
WEINSTEIN'S MEMORIES:
Ups and Downs
At my request, Raoul Weinstein sent me some memories of his three years at CNC, with the comment "Being both a math professor and a track coach had its ups and downs." At age 24 his first year, he was CNC'S youngest faculty member, which meant having to earn the respect of his math students. At first, some of them, especially those older than he, found it hard to address him as "Mr. Weinstein" or "Professor Weinstein." When he was named track coach, however, he was soon addressed campus wide as "Coach."
When asked by Director Cunningham and Dean Windsor to coach a new track team, he accepted, although feeling "unsure if I could do the job. I had been a sprinter and a quarter-miler in high school and college. What would I know about teaching a young man how to pole vault, or high jump, or throw the shot put, or sling a javelin? I knew it would be a daunting task, but I set my mind to it as quickly as I could. Fortunately, this was a college, not a high school, and the students who showed up to form the initial team by and large had prior experience in the event of their choice from high school. I planned our team's workouts, I listened to my guys tell me what kind of workouts they had had in high school."
A major downside was that "track practice was not the highest priority" for some on his team--a consequence in part, he felt, of having "no facilities on campus like a dressing room or showers or training areas. Or a track!" Rather than "getting on their backs about it," however, he showed his appreciation "when they did show up for practice--and if they showed up for the actual meets. I tried to instill in them a pride in working hard if they wanted to get better. I let them know that when a practice was scheduled, at whatever time or whatever place, I would be there for them. And I was. I instilled in them some of things that had helped me when I competed in track, and that might help make them more successful. And I felt extremely gratified by the efforts made by some and frustrated by the lack of effort by others.
To his credit, Weinstein was "a math professor first, and a track coach second. In each of my first two years, I had the frustrating and disappointing task of giving a D or an F to the top performer on my track team, with the result both years that each flunked out of school. That was hard to do." But it was the right thing to do.
The Unforgettable Meet
"During our second year, the spring of 1966," Weinstein wrote, "I felt we had enough talented freshmen to enter the Virginia State Meet in early May at Washington & Lee's track in Lexington, in the freshman division. I took six track team members to Lexington: Wade Williams, Lee Abrahamson, Joe English, Joe Hutchko, Mike Finnerty and Bob Webb. It was an experience I'll never forget. The competition included the teams from the Big Six Conference (W&M, VPI, VMI, Richmond, W&L, and UVA) plus numerous other state schools such as Roanoke, Lynchburg, and Randolph-Macon that had been competing in track for many years.
Weinstein in the 1966 Trident, p. 84.
I was more nervous than my men. I wanted a good night's sleep the night before, I wanted to eat the right breakfast, the right training meal, get warmed up properly -- it was like I was the one competing. As the gun went off for each running event in which we had a contestant, whether trials or finals, I was a basket case. As each one of our guys came running down the runways for the long jump or the high jump or heaving a weight out into space, I was fluttering inside with nerves. It was a long and hot afternoon and my energy was completely sapped even though I never ran a single yard.
When the mile relay was over and the points were added up, CNC was in 7th place--right behind only the Big Six schools and AHEAD of everyone else! Hardly another coach or team up to that time had ever heard of Christopher Newport College, but on that day, it seemed that our navy and grey uniforms were everywhere. CNC's 6 guys had managed here and there to upset a few pretty good unsuspecting freshmen from some of the bigger schools. I was proud that day -- proud of my guys and proud to bring the name of Christopher Newport College to the attention of the rest of the state."
Raoul Weinstein has attended many of our reunions, beginning in 2011. The above photo, made by CNU Photos, was made at the 50th Reunion of CNC's Class of 1967, held in CNU'S Alumni House. Shown are Weinstein with some of his former CNC track men. Left to right are Norman Blankenship, Coach Weinstein, Wade Williams, Bill Smith, and Dave Hall. Raoul and his wife, Nancy, plan to attend also the 50th Reunion of the Class of 1968.
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Published September 15, 2017
Surviving Humid Heat in CNC Buildings
with No Air Conditioning:
1964 - 1968
by A. Jane Chambers
Students, faculty, and others who were at CNC between 1964 and 1968 no doubt remember the ordeal of being in Newport Hall or Gosnold Hall when both were not yet air conditioned. Although designed for air conditioning, these first classroom buildings were not funded for it for several years. How did we survive the often overwhelming and humid heat on the Shoe Lane campus in those years?
The photo below is of newly opened Christopher Newport Hall, the first building, in the fall of 1964. Every 1965 CNC yearbook, the Trident, has a copy of this color photo glued inside it on page 5. Notice that the two separate one-story units on the front had some tall but narrow louvered windows which opened outward. These provided some small relief from the heat, particularly on breezy days, for those using the first campus library (left) and the lecture hall (right).
Less fortunate were the people using the offices and classrooms in the two-story part of Newport Hall. No windows opened there, except the tiny transoms below most windows (visible in the photo above)--and those opened inward only a few inches. Making the situation even worse, there were not even any shades, blinds, or curtains on most windows to block the sun. Hotter than the first floor was, of course, the second floor--the home of all English offices and classrooms. I don't believe classes were ever cancelled, however, even in extreme heat. During one summer class meeting, English Professor Barry Wood placed a thermometer on a patch of shade on his classroom floor, and the reading was well over 100 degrees!
In his essay "Remembering the English Department's First Decade," Professor Steve Sanderlin wrote: "Teaching under such conditions was a real challenge! Dress rules suddenly changed: in summer sessions, students (but not faculty) could wear Bermuda shorts. Cold beverages, previously forbidden, were allowed in the classrooms. Huge, heavy roll-around fans were brought in, but these only blew the hot air around and made so much noise that one had to scream loudly to be heard. For the first time in my career, I taught without a coat and tie. Some of us longed to be back in the old Daniel building!" (Memories of Christopher Newport College, The First Decade, p. 42). Built in 1914, the Daniel building, in which Steve and I both taught for one year, although not air conditioned, had good ventilation because of its high ceilings and very tall windows.
Located on Newport Hall's first floor was the Computer Center, which had the only air conditioning in the building during those years. Unlike us, the equipment could not tolerate any humidity at all. On extremely hot days, especially during summer sessions, Professor Graham Pillow had more visitors than usual in that Center because some faculty and staff, including me, would create excuses for stopping by there to cool off for awhile.
Like Newport Hall, Gosnold Hall (photo above), completed by September of 1966, also had no air conditioning--plus the same style windows as Newport. In his Memories book essay "Marine Biologist Finds CNC His Perfect Port," Professor Ron Mollick, a San Diego native who joined CNC's Biology Department in the fall of 1968, thought at first that his office in the College's first science building was "uncomfortably hot" because of "malfunctioning air conditioning equipment," but , he wrote: "I soon learned that most buildings on campus were not air-conditioned! I immediately purchased a great big box fan that I placed at my door. It blew a gale and required that I weigh down every paper on my desk" (p. 57).
Ratcliffe Gymnasium and the combined Captain John Smith Library and Smith Hall Administration Building opened in the fall of 1967. Both had central air conditioning. The hotter the weather, the more time students and faculty spent in the library, of course. And faculty also lingered longer than need be in Smith Hall, reading their mail posted in the reception and mail boxes area and socializing with colleagues in various offices. Finally, in 1968, funding was allocated for the much-needed air conditioning of both Newport Hall and Gosnold Hall--in that order, I believe.
Front entrance of the Captain John Smith Library. 1970 Trident photo.
President Cunningham & Registrar Jane Pillow at the reception and mailboxes area inside the newly opened Smith Hall in 1967. Daily Press photo.
Dr. Sanderlin recalled in his Memories book essay mentioned earlier that the installing of the central air conditioning system in Newport was "not without some mishaps .... One day as I was walking down the hall on the second floor, I heard a loud noise and anguished cries. The maintenance man installing equipment in the attic had fallen through the ceiling and landed on a student sitting in a classroom! Fortunately, no one was badly hurt. But this incident and others were not uncommon for a while" (p. 43). Finally, though, we were all able to retire our electric fans.
with Thanks to Mike Coburn for inspiring this article
After I had talked briefly about the names of CNC's first buildings, someone asked, "Where did the name 'Shoe Lane' come from?" The occasion was the May 12, 2017 Golden Reunion of CNC's Class of 1967. "I have no idea!" I admitted. Then alumnus Mike Coburn spoke up, saying he thought the name came from some horse stables in the area long ago.
SHOE LANE
Mike later emailed me to confirm that his memory had been correct. Shoe Lane and two streets that meet it directly across from CNU, BriarPatch Place and Paddock Drive, "relate to the stables that once occupied that piece of property." He included a link to a Daily Press article of May 24, 1992, " 'Tally-ho' Is A Virginian Tradition," written by Alexander Wiatt, a Hampton veterinarian. It mentions that in 1946, the Hampton Horse Show (dating from the 1920s) moved to Mrs. R.W. Mitchell's Briar Patch Stables on Shoe Lane, in then Warwick County, and was renamed the James River Hunt. So these three names originally honored horse shoes, horse stables, and small enclosed fields for holding horses near stables (paddocks) .
On the 2017 CNU campus map above, Shoe Lane is near the bottom, above the word "ATHLETICS." The mark just right of the word "Lane" indicates the beginning of Paddock Drive. The mark left of the word "Shoe" showsthe beginning of Briar Patch Place. The original street address of CNC was 50 Shoe Lane and the road began at Warwick Blvd.
MOORE'S LANE
Crossing Shoe Lane just past Briar Patch Place (see campus map) is Moore's Lane, the second residential boundary of Christopher Newport. That name also goes back to the rural days in Warwick County. Les Pendleton, who was at CNC 1965-66, recently wrote to me that his maternal grandparents were "the Moores for whom that lane is named. " They had a farm on that lane, he recalled, and Les's family also lived on Moore's lane, as did many of his "aunts, uncles and cousins."
Les Pendleton's maternal grandparents were among the many people who sold their land between 1961 and 1963 to the City of Newport News once the City decided to provide 72 acres of land in the Shoe Lane area for the "new campus" of CNC. The farm the Moores sold bordered Moore's Lane and included what is now CNU's Parking Lot I (yellow square on the map).
WARWICK BOULEVARD
Warwick Blvd. (campus map, right), one of the four original boundaries of CNC/U, now splits part of the campus. The name "Warwick" has an interesting history. After the founding of Jamestown (1607), the Virginia Colony was divided in 1634 into eight shires (counties), one of which was called "Warwick River Shire," because that river had become a major port on the James. The area was essentially (with few changes) what is now the City of Newport News (see map below).
Historian Dick Anderson, in A History of Warwick (1953), wrote that the name "Warwick" was "after Sir Robert Rich, Second Earl of Warwick, who was a prominent member of the Virginia Company, though he never visited the [New] World County bearing his name. Patterned after county government in England, Warwick was then governed by a lieutenant and an elected sheriff." In March of 1643, the Colonial Assembly "outlined the boundaries" and "shortened the name to Warwick County."
In 1869, the village of Newport News broke from Warwick County to become the independent City of Newport News, having grown considerably after development of the coal piers, the eastern terminus of the C & O Railroad, and Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company. In I952, the remainder of Warwick County became, briefly, the City of Warwick. Then, in 1958, Warwick became part of the city of Newport News (Wikapedia).
J. Clyde Morris Boulevard, which meets Warwick at the entrance to CNU and The Mariners' Museum, was so named in 1958 by the Warwick City Council to honor the only city manager of the City of Warwick. Mr. Morris (1909-87) also was a leader in the funding, building, and operating of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, completed in 1964 (Wikapedia).
The map above is from page 2 of the 1970-71 CNC catalog. In the upper left corner you can see the small corner of Prince Drew Road that was originally the fourth boundary of the campus. The 2017 CNU map (at beginning of article) shows most of that street now as a major boundary. I have found no information about its name.
HIDEN BOULEVARD
In recent years, part of Hiden Blvd. (pronounced HY-den) has become a new boundary of Christopher Newport (upper right on CNU map). This name honors Philip Wallace Hiden (1872-1936), a businessman and mayor of Newport News (1920-24) who owned most of the land in Warwick County in the Nutmeg Quarter area. Hiden also organized and directed the James River Bridge Corporation, which funded and built the original James River Bridge, which opened in 1928, plus two other Southside toll bridges, thus opening travel from Newport News to Portsmouth, and (via the private bridge built by Carl Jordan) to Norfolk, to vehicular traffic rather than ferries (Wikapedia).
Mr. Hiden died in 1936. His wife, Martha Woodroof Hiden, born in 1888, lived until 1959. During 1951-57, the family divided a 200-acre parcel of land in the Nutmeg Quarter area into the residential neighborhood they named Hidenwood--possibly a combination of the name "Hiden" and "Woodroof," Mrs. Hiden maiden name.
Do you have questions and/or information about the early years of Christopher Newport? If so, contact us! You too might inspire an article for this website--or write an article yourself!
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Published June 23, 2017
CNC's First Fraternity, Chi Psi Omega:
A Long-Lasting Brotherhood
by A. Jane Chambers
with information and photos from
CNC's original frat brothers
and Trident yearbooks
Photo of CPO members, families, and friends taken in 2014 at the York County home of member Henry Jones, on the occasion of his 60th birthday.
NOTE: If you or someone you know belonged to this first fraternity at CNC, you might want to look at and perhaps even join this group on Facebook: Friends of Chi Psi Omega.
Christopher Newport's first fraternity, Chi Psi Omega (CPO), founded in the spring semester of 1970, quickly became a major social hub during those years when CNC had no dorms and few clubs that provided social activities. Strong bonds were formed not only within the fraternity but also with other CNC students, including some members of the school's first sorority, Pi Kappa Sigma, which was also founded in spring 1970.
Some Peninsula-area members of CPO, who had kept in touch for decades after leaving CNC, reactivated their fraternity beginning about 2006-2007, and since that time, they have continued to reconnect with more CPO brothers and friends and to hold social events, usually at members' homes. The photo below, taken in 2014, was made at the home of Roman and Melinda Schenkkan, during Roman's 60th birthday party. The two women, Candace (Candy) Hixson Whitley (L) andMelinda Schenkkan (R) were in CNC's first sorority, Pi Kappa Sigma. The CPO brothers are (front, L-R) Roman Schenkkan, John Norman, Richard (Rick) Fox, Chris Wilson and Ron Haskins and back (L-R) David Whitley (Candy's husband), Henry Jones andCarl Farris.
The 1971 Trident devoted 2 full pages to CPO, including five photographs, on pages 46 and 47. The excerpt below lists and shows the 9 first officers and the sponsor, professor Graham Pillow (p. 46). The location is the front steps of the fraternity house, discussed here later. There is also a half-page picture of 17 charter members (including these 10) but the quality is so poor that the faces (and even some bodies) can hardly be seen. Names of the 7 additional first members listed under that photo areRichard Hahn, Tom Maney, Gerald DesLauriers, Tom Knez, Pat Giguere, Dana Meredith and Walt Grizzard.
The 1972Trident photo below (from p. 50) shows an almost doubling in size of the fraternity its second year, with 22 members pictured and an additional 9 named but not shown, for a total of 31.This photo was also taken on the front steps of CPO's rented house.
Doug Duncan, CPO's first treasurer (Spring 1970), then its president in both 1970-71 and 1971-72, recalls two reasons for this surge in growth: intramural sports and dances. "We had intramural basketball and flag footballteams and hosted several dances on campus," he wrote. "The college put on some dances in Ratcliffe Gym that were poorly attended, while our house was packed on the weekends. So I was called by the administration to see if we would host and manage a couple of dances at the campus, which were huge successes. We knew how to throw a party. On the downside," Doug added, "I was in President Windsor's office more than once answering inquiries about our activities."
Crucial to the fraternity's appeal also was the fact that CPO had a HOUSE--fondly called by some "The Palace"--which, although long since demolished, is enshrined in memories and a few pictures. It was an older, modest-sized two-story house (photo above) located at11514 Warwick Blvd. (map above). Gerald DesLauriers accurately recalls that it was "onthe left side of Warwick Blvd if you were traveling South and was about halfway between Matthew Road and Fontaine Road." The house sat back from the road, with a large front yard. After it was razed, the lot was divided and two two-story frame houses were built there, close to the road, in 2003.
First treasurer Doug Duncan was charged with negotiating the lease for "The Palace" in Spring, 1970. Henry Jones, CPO president in 1973-74, remembers that the owner was Cecil Moore, an attorney in York County. Doug recalls being "a big hit in his law office with my purple bell bottom pants." Moore had bought the house, Doug says, "to put his law office there, but had had trouble getting it zoned properly," which is why he decided to lease it to the fraternity. The rent was, Henry recalls, "$200 a month."Every summer we'd get behind in the rent; then we'd have a keg party as a back to school dance, and we'd be flush with money again."
Doug recalls that "the house was run down but with a lot of effort we made it at least habitable. Shown left is a "Spring Work Party" taking a break: Top row (L-R) Stacy T. Louis, Henry Jones, and C.D. Young; middle (L-R) John Norman, Chris Wilson, and Jeff Meyer; and bottom (L-R)Graham Spady and Bob Johnston.
Gerald remembers helping to "remodel" the old house right after they leased it: "Iwas working at the Sears store in Denbigh and remember getting some gallons of clearance paint and along with a few other members painting much of the house. If I remember correctly some of the colors were 'strange' but it was cheap and we really did not care!"
Several members lived in the house, including, Doug recalls, Doug Henkel and Jon Grimes, and at least one dog. Robert Sowell wrote on the group's Facebook page that he lived there "for a few months.," during which, when he was by himself at night, strange thingswould happen. "Loud noises would come from inside...noises like stomping on floors, especially the staircase" and "very loud noises knocking on my bedroom door. There were times when things got so bad in there that I just slept in my car....I don't know why I experienced this, but it was real and it scared the heck out of me." Was it ghosts? Brothers sneaking back in to scare him? Or too much beer?
Beer was CPO's main source of revenue. Doug Duncan wrote: "We had a drink machine at the house dispensing beer for 25 cents. We would go to Farm Fresh, which had some beer on sale each week for $1 per six pack, mostly Schlitz. Making 50 cents on each six pack we were able to fund most of the fraternity. We also had a keg party once every couple weeks." Henry Jones is the bartender above (L). Stacy T. Louis and Debby Hixson (later Eure) are the Halloween party people (R).
In addition to playing intramural football and basketball on CNC's campus and attending and hosting social events there, the college's first fraternity provided a social atmosphere near campus for other students. "We never really checked for membership, Doug states. "If you were attending CNC ... you were always welcome."
Candy Hixson, a first CNC sorority member, remembers that after she met DavidWhitley (later her husband) in April of 1972, the two attended so many CPO parties that "people probably thought he was a fraternity member." Both are active members of the now reunited group. Other marriages related to CPO include those of Doug Duncan and Pi Kappa Sigma member Pam Sanderson, Jeff Meyer and Susie Buckley, and Greg Breault and DarcyPettijohn.
MemberJohn Norman's parents had a beach house on Currituck Sound, near the Nags Head area, so there were several summers (particularly 1972 & 73) when the fraternity had "Beach Week" there. The photos above show some of them and friends playing match stick poker (L) inside the Normans' cottage and sunbathing on the family's boat dock (R), which had a distant view (far left) of the bridge between Nags Head and Roanoke Island. The poker players are (L-R) Doug Duncan, Greg Breault, Doug Henkel, Rich Hahn, Mike Plott, and barely visible, Terry Shannon. Who are the sunbathers?
The Chi Psi Omega brothers from the early 1970s are now in their early sixties, but for some, Christopher Newport is still an important part of their lives. A number of them are active alumni, attending sports events, homecomings, and other activities at now CNU. At least three were among CNU's Top 50 Alumni honored in 2011 during the University's 50th Anniversary:Doug Duncan ('72),Carl Farris ('74) andHenry Jones ('75).The photo below left shows (L-R)CPO brothers Graham Spady, Henry Jones and Dave Hutcheson at a tailgating party before a CNU football game in 2013. The other photo shows (L-R)Ron Haskins and Henry Jones talking with CNU'S Alumni Relations Director Baxter Vendrick on Sept. 16, 2016, during the Column Signing event at the almost-finished Alumni House.
Along with families and friends, the brothers also get together as often as possible to celebrate birthdays or just to celebrate life itself, remembering those they have lost to death, including Pat Giguere, Jon Grimes, and most recently, Dick Werstein. Most of these gatherings are at members' homes. At a party on November 6, 2016, held at the home of John and Elaine Norman, they had the photo below made at my request, especially for this article. Seated in front (L-R) are Chris Wilson, Henry Jones, and Steve Kiger. Standing in the middle are (L-R) Ron Haskins, Roman Schenkkan, Stewart Patterson, andMarvin Adams. Standing at the back are (L-R) John Norman, Earl Lankford, and Robert Sowell. May this brotherhood and their friends enjoy many more such parties!
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Published June 9, 2017
Remembering Alumnus Pat Giguere: U.S. Marine Pilot KIA in Grenada, October 25, 1983
Revised 5/26/17
by A. Jane Chambers
with information from Jan Giguere Clarke
Clearly Pat died a hero and it was my honor to know him.
Colonel Greg Baur (USMCR)
John Patrick (Pat) Giguere was the middle child and second son in a Catholic and Army family with five children. The family lived in several places in Virginia and then in France until his father retired, in 1963, when Pat was 13. Lt. Col. Giguere then moved his family to Newport News to work at Fort Monroe. Pat attended Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, Saint Vincent’s (later Peninsula Catholic), and CNC (BS in Business, 1972).
Pat Giguere as a CNC senior. 1972 TRIDENT, p. 72.
Like his father and brother Mike, Pat next followed the family's military tradition by joining the Marine Corps. He became such an outstanding helicopter pilot that by 1979, he was a flight instructor in Pensacola, flying the big rotary engine fixed wing T-28. In 1983 he joined tactical squadron HMM-261, where he served as the senior Cobra pilot. Then he was sent to Grenada, to battle in Operation Urgent Fury.
BACKGROUND OF THE GRENADA ACTION
October 1983, revolution broke out in the Caribbean Island of Grenada when Deputy Prime Minister Bernard Coard deposed Prime Minister Maurice Bishop. With Cuban support, Grenadian rebels fermented anti-American sentiments that threatened the security of U.S. Citizens on the island, and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States appealed to the United States, Barbados, and Jamaica for assistance.
On October 25, U.S. Forces parachuted onto the island to begin what was ultimately a brief battle to liberate the people and protect American citizens. Over a period of several days the American presence grew to 7,000 Army Rangers, Navy SEALS, Airmen and Marines who engaged rebels and their Cuban advisors in action that resulted in 19 American combat deaths and 116 American wounded.The crash of a U.S. Marine helicopter on the opening day of the invasion resulted in awards of the Navy Cross and SIX Silver Stars to U.S. Marines (three of them Posthumously.) [Home of Heroes, Military Times]
Paratroopers landing in Grenada during Operation Urgent Fury. Photo from Home of Heroes, Military Times.
Cobra helicopter of Marine captain Tim Howard burning after being shot down by Cubans during Operation Urgent Fury. Photo by Joe Muccia.
THE FATAL BATTLE
Pat Giguere was one of the three Marine officers in Operation Urgent Fury to be posthumously awarded the Silver Star. His heroic action is described in this Citation, presented by then-President Ronald Reagan:
GIGUERE, PAT (KIA)
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Silver Star Medal (Posthumously) to Pat Giguere, Captain, U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as an AH-1T (TOW) Cobra Attack Helicopter Pilot in Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-ONE (HMM-261), Twenty-Second Marine Amphibious Unit conducting combat operations on the Island of Grenada in support of Operation URGENT FURY, on 25 October 1983.
While conducting an armed reconnaissance mission in support of ground forces, Captain Giguere's wingman was hit by multiple anti-aircraft artillery projectiles and forced down behind enemy lines. With full knowledge of their vulnerability as a single aircraft without a wingman's protective cover and with total disregard for their own safety, Captain Giguere and his Co-Pilot exposed their aircraft to heavy anti-aircraft artillery fire while engaging enemy ground forces and preventing the certain capture of the helpless and gravely wounded crew. Requesting assistance from a rescue aircraft and organizing the rescue attempt, Captain Giguere and his Co-Pilot fearlessly continued to engage the anti-aircraft emplacements that encircled the zone protecting the more vulnerable rescue aircraft and buying enough time to effect a successful rescue. Purposely remaining behind until the rescue aircraft could escape the enemy fire, Captain Giguere sacrificed his life after a gallant struggle so that others might live. By his extraordinary courage, uncommon valor, and steadfast devotion to duty in the face of danger, Captain Giguere reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
This photo of Pat as Marine appears in several places on the internet. Appears to be a USMC photo.
Silver Star award, named after the small silver star within the gold star.
USMC photo of an AH-1 Cobra firing during Operation Urgent Fury. This is the type of attack helo Pat was piloting.
Retired Colonel Greg Baur (USMCR), commander of Pat’s squadron, gave this first-hand account of Pat’s death in a January 18, 2012 email to the Giguere family:
He and the flight of 2 cobras that he led were sent to support an Army unit that had been pinned down on the single highway running up to the West side of the island coming up from Pt. Salinas. Pat’s second cobra (not HIS helo) was shot down by an anti aircraft site that no one knew was there. Pat stayed in the area, making gun passes on the site until he ran out of ammunition, while a rescue of the downed crew was launched. Pat and his copilot continued to press the attack and cover the downed pilots even after he ran out of ammunition. When his aircraft was hit, the helo impacted the water in a directly nose down attitude. The crash was unsurvivable. The downed pilot, Capt. Tim Howard was recovered, but his copilot Jeb Seagle was executed when he left the crash site…. Clearly Pat died a hero and it was my honor to know him.
Pat’s sister Jan Giguere Clarke says that for her family, 1983 was “a very bad year.” On August 31st, the family lost a beloved father, husband, and grandfather: retired Army Lt. Col. Alfred J. Giguere, Jr., who was given a military burial at Quantico National Cemetery. Fifty-five days later, the Gigueres also lost Pat: son, brother, young husband and expectant father —also given a military burial at Quantico. “Pathad been selected for promotion to Major in April 1983,” says Jan. Thus he was promoted posthumously, as reflected his grave marker (left).
The people of the small Island nation of Grenada have not forgotten the American warriors who died for them. The date of the Invasion of Grenada, October 23, is a national holiday, Grenada’s Thanksgiving Day. Point Salines International Airport became the Maurice Bishop International Airport in 2009. Erected there is a monument (below L) honoring the Americans who liberated Grenada. Inscribed on the Grenada Memorial at nearby St. George’s University (below R) are the names of the 19 Americans killed.
The first in Pat's family to visit the scene of his death were his mother and his sister Jan, who went there in 1986. In 2013, family members of all the fallen American heroes were invited to a ceremony at the Grenada Memorial, with transportation fully paid for. Pat’s widow and their son (born after Pat's death) and Pat's sister Ann and her husband, Bill Tucker, attended this event.In a lengthy email to Pat’s family dated June 5, 2013, his commanding officer, Colonel Greg Baur, recalled the details of the battle in which Pat was killed and wrote: “His efforts saved Tim Howard’s life. Then Capt. Howard was able to finish a 30 year Marine career as a one armed Marine Colonel, limited duty intelligence officer.”
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Published May 26, 2017
Addendum to
President Scotty Cunningham's Naval Service
in WW2 and Korea: Family Photos
CNU's Dr. Sean Heuvel recently learned from H. Westcott Cunningham's daughter, Ann Cunningham Stachura, that her father knew John Fitzgerald Kennedy when both men were young PT boat skippers serving in the same area of the southwest Pacific in WW2. Ann said also that her father served in the Honor Guard at President Kennedy's Inaugural Parade in January of 1961.
NOTE: Complete article can be found under the First Decade History sub-tab of the Website Archives tab found to the left of this page near the top.
Published April 28, 2017
President Scotty Cunningham's Naval Service
in WW II and Korea:
Family Photos
by A. Jane Chambers
With thanks to Ann Cunningham Stachura
and CNU's Dr. Sean Heuvel
Lieutenant (JG) and Mrs. Cunningham in January, 1944. Except where otherwise stated, all photos in this article are from the Cunningham family collection provided by Ann Cunningham Stachura.
During World War II, Hughes Westcott ("Scotty") Cunningham, a native of Elizabeth, NJ, and Cecil Cary ("Cecy") Waddell met in Williamsburg, VA, as students at the College of William and Mary, and fell in love. An athlete (football and track) and scholar (bachelor's in English and master's in linguistics), Scottie joined the Navy after completing his degrees at W&M while Cecy was still a student. "World War II was on," Scotty recalled in a DAILY PRESS interview of September 9, 1962: "Miss Cecil Cary Waddell had finished her third year at William and Mary. I persuaded her to leave college and marry a struggling young lieutenant junior grade--me." *
Scotty became the skipper of a PT boat like the one in the above watercolor painting, and "for two years, roamed the Pacific, primarily in the area of New Guinea and the Philippines" (Aaron, DP, p. 2B). The photo at the left shows Scotty in his boat. (Is that an air mail letter from Cecy in his shirt pocket?) At about the same time, another young Naval officer, destined to become a U.S. President, was also performing the same duty: young John Fitzgerald Kennedy, in his PT 109.
A National Park Service article, "PT Boats of World War II: From Home Front to Battle," gives a excellent summary of the boat and its functions: PT (Patrol, Torpedo) boats were small, fast, and expendable vessels for short range oceanic scouting, armed with torpedoes and machine guns for cutting enemy supply lines and harassing enemy forces. Forty-three PT squadrons, each with 12 boats were formed during World War II by the U.S. Navy.
Internet drawing of ELCO style PT boat.
PT boats were used for harassing enemy shore installations, supporting friendly troop landings, destroying floating mines, sinking enemy shipping targets, destroying enemy landing barges, rescuing downed pilots, landing partisans behind enemy lines, and attacking enemy island outposts. PT boat duty was very dangerous and the squadrons suffered an extremely high loss rate in the war (PT Boats of WW II, no page).
When Cunningham returned to the States, he and his wife went back to Williamsburg so that Cecy could finish her degree; to pay their expenses, Scotty got a temporary job at William and Mary as admission assistant to the Dean of Admission. The job turned out to be more than temporary, and he did not leave it until the outbreak of the Korean conflict, when he was called back into the Navy (Aaron, DP, p. 2B).
Lieutenant Cunningham in his tan dress uniform. The family has donated this entire uniform for the Alumni House display. Undated photo.
Because he had contracted malaria while serving in the southwest Pacific, Scotty couldn't serve in Korea itself during the Korean War. Instead, according his daughter, Ann, he was a military briefer at the Pentagon (Info from Dr. Sean Heuvel). The DP interview of Sept. 9, 1962, states Cunningham was "one of two official 'briefers' in the Office of the Secretary of the Navy and quotes his description of his job in Washington: "We were the people who would explain the Navy's official point of view to ambassadors, legislator, and so on" (Aaron, p. 2B).
At the end of the Korean Conflict, Scotty returned again to W&M, this time as Dean of Admissions and Student Aid. Two years later, he accepted the position of Director of Christopher Newport College of the College of William and Mary, moving to Newport News with his wife, Cecy, and their first baby, Ann. There he would create a college where there was none.
From 1953 through 1970, H. Westcott Cunningham also remained an active member of the U.S. Navy Reserves, retiring at the rank of Captain, as shown on the plaque below. By that time, he had also created a place in history for himself as not simply the first President of CNC, but the first CAPTAIN of CNC--our first leader, who led us from a 2-year school to a 4-year college.
Dr. Sean Heuvel recently wrote to me: " I'm working with Ann right now to request Scotty's military service records from the National Archives, so we can get a more complete picture of his WWII service, but it may take a little while....." I expect when their work is completed, we will have an article by Ann Cunningham Stachura and Dr. Sean Heuvel giving us a much fuller picture of President Cunningham's military service than we have at present.
*Joan D. Aaron, "Temporary Job After Wartime Duty Results in Directorship of Peninsula's Junior College," p. 2
CNU's Dr. Sean Heuvel recently learned from H. Westcott Cunningham's daughter, Ann Cunningham Stachura, that her father knew John Fitzgerald Kennedy when both men were young PT boat skippers serving in the same area of the southwest Pacific in WW2. Ann said also that her father served in the Honor Guard at President Kennedy's Inaugural Parade in January of 1961.
ADDENDUM Published April 28, 2017
Remembering Donald Bennett Riley,
Professor Emeritus of Accounting
(June 25,1934 - January 25, 2017)
When I went to his office, I was impressed that he had
a dumbbell weight on the floor. When I asked if he worked out,
he replied, "It makes a good doorstop."
--Coach Jim Hubbard, recalling his first meeting with Don Riley.
by A. Jane Chambers
Donald Bennett Riley and I both joined the CNC faculty in the fall of 1963, when the College was located in the former Daniel Elementary School building on 32nd Street in downtown Newport News. Christopher Newport was beginning its third year as a two-year branch of The College of William and Mary, and Don came aboard as its first full-time economics professor in what would become the Department of Business and Economics. CNC's first yearbook included the pictures below of young Don Riley: a studio portrait (L) and an informal pose in Don's office (R), with the caption "My students won't study; I guess I will" (the 1964 Trident, p. 14).
A Newport News native, Don was a graduate of Newport News High School, located only a stone's throw from our young college's first home. He then had a B.S. from what had been the Norfolk College of William and Mary (then Old Dominion College, later University) and an M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Later he would also earn an M.S. from Virginia Commonwealth University and become a C.P.A. He taught at CNC until his retirement--from the Daniel years through the Shoe Lane Campus years and into the early part of the CNU years, as did I.
Wayne M. Schell was both Don Riley's student at CNC and, later, his colleague there. After earning his B.S., M.B.A. and Ph.D., plus becoming a C.P.A., Wayne joined Don and others in the faculty of CNC's Department of Accounting and Finance. In his essay "Journey: From CNC Student to CNU Professor," Wayne fondly recalls taking five courses with Don during his two years as full-time student (1966 - 1968)--courses in accounting, economics, and business. Below are some of Wayne's memories of Don as his professor and mentor, taken from his "Journey" essay, published inMemories of Christopher Newport College: The First Decade, 1961 -1971.
Don Riley's classes were not for slackers. He required work, and lots of it. His philosophy of teaching seemed to be that students learn by doing, and we did a lot ... we were required to do, and then go over in class, virtually every exercise and problem in the [accounting] text. Obviously, his classes had a high attrition rate, but those who completed the class finished with a strong background in accounting ("Journey," inMemories, p. 210).
Wayne Schell as a CNC sophomore. 1968 Trident, p. 101.
In this 1966 Trident photo (L), Don Riley looks quite serious as he stands behind a classroom desk, but Wayne remembers that his classes were "often quite entertaining. He could be very funny while also being very serious about the material." Wayne remembers one particular example of Don's classroom humor: There was a smart, attractive, outgoing young woman who had a rather naive, "ah-shucks" demeanor. After a few weeks of interacting with her, Mr. Riley morphed into a kind of Gomer Pyle character. Between the two of them, there were more "gollys" and "shazams" in that class than you would hear in all of Mayberry (p. 210).
Don was also a great supporter of CNC's athletic teams. Former coaches Jim Hubbard (men's track and golf) and Bev Vaughan (men's basketball), both of whom joined CNC in the fall of 1967, wrote about Don Riley with affection and humor in their separate essays in our Memories of Christopher Newport College book, and as the College's first cheerleader sponsor, I also got to witness Don's enthusiasm.
Coach Hubbard in the 1968 Trident, p. 29.
Don was also a mentor to young Wayne, "always available to talk" with students outside class and "generous with his time." He helped Wayne with "a number of career and life questions." Most importantly he made him aware of the true value of his education. Wayne recalls: As the first in my family to attend college, I viewed higher education only as a way to improve my economic status ... Don Riley was the first to suggest to me that it wasn't just about the money. He said that a college education gave me the opportunity to spend my life doing something I enjoy ... a revelation to me. I am truly grateful to Don for his insight (p. 210).
Don was also a great supporter of CNC's athletic teams. Former coaches Jim Hubbard (men's track and golf) and Bev Vaughan (men's basketball), both of whom joined CNC in the fall of 1967, wrote about Don Riley with affection and humor in their separate essays in our Memories of Christopher Newport College book, and as the College's first cheerleader sponsor, I also got to witness Don's enthusiasm.
Coach Hubbard in the 1968 Trident, p. 29.
James N. Hubbard III, in his essay "Of Track Shoes, Golf Balls, and Athletic Supporters," recalling his first year at CNC, wrote: The College still had no bus, so both of us [he and Bev] had to get our teams to games the best way we could--usually by personal cars. I was told I should meet Don Riley ... because he contributed time and effort to the athletic department and regularly drove players to their basketball games. When I went to his office, I was impressed that he had a dumbbell weight on the floor. When I asked if he worked out, he replied, "It makes a good doorstop." He was ... a witty guy. The basketball players always wanted to ride with Don if they could, because if they rode with Coach Vaughan and lost the game, he would not stop to let them eat afterwards. However, Don Riley would stop to feed his group, whether the team won or lost (pp. 113 -114).
Coach Vaughan in the 1968 Trident, p. 30.
R. Bev Vaughan Jr., in his essay "Setting the Sail: Launching the Men's Basketball Program," recalled the College's first bus, a used school bus quickly dubbed the "Blue Goose." CNC Director Scotty Cunningham got it at the state surplus in Richmond for $500. "It was driven to Newport News and given a new coat of blue paint and 'Christopher Newport College' white lettering on each side," Bev wrote, but the heater never worked properly and the bus "was in the state maintenance shop more often than it was on the road" (pp. 121- 122).
Almost no one wanted to drive that unpredictable bus, but as Coach Vaughan wrote: One of the first drivers of the "Blue Goose" was accounting professor Don Riley. Don was an extremely careful driver, but, oh, did he drive so very slowly. We often kidded him about his slow driving. Someone once said if we had a game with ODC in Norfolk, it would be a two-day trip, with an overnight stay at the Strawberry Banks Motel! (p. 123). Don voluntarily drove not only CNC's male athletes but also its female athletes to their away games for a long time.
Christopher Newport was always a major part of Don Riley's life, and it continued to be after his retirement. In 2008, Don and his companion, Nellie Horton, attended the party at the Peninsula Fine Arts launching the publication of our book Memories of Christopher Newport College.Don also regularly attended the social gatherings of our CNC First Decaders, beginning with the very big 2011 weekend First Reunion in CNU's Banquet Hall. He also attended all of our group's annual September Picnics at Newport News Park, even after the sad loss of his dear companion Nellie. I remember talking with him on the phone after Nellie's surprising and sudden death. He was devastated. He did not attend our 2016 picnic and did not respond to my emails. Too caught up in my own busy life, I did not phone him. I wish now that I had.
Obituary photo. Daily Press, February 6, 2017.
___________________________________________
Additional memories of Donald Riley, from colleagues and students,
will be published on this website on March 3, 2017. Send to
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Published February 17, 2017
Daniel School's Famous First Grader:
William Styron
(Revised 09/02/16)
by A. Jane Chambers
In her essay "The Graduating Class of One," CNC first graduate Lois Wright wrote of the former Daniel School that if she and her CNC classmates had known in 1961-62 "that Pulitzer Prize winner William Styron (author of The Confessions of Nat Turner) had spent most of his first year of grammar school there, we might have felt more reverence for the old building."
To verify that she was correct on this point, Lois "e-mailed Styron's biographer, James L. W. West III, author of William Styron: A Life, who wrote back: " 'Billy' Styron, as he was then known, did go to first grade in the John W. Daniel Grammar School. He entered in the fall of 1931. Near the end of that school year, his parents bought the house at 56 Hopkins Street in Hilton Village, so Billy finished first grade at Hilton Village Elementary School' " (Memories of Christopher Newport College: The First Decade, p. 183). He then attended Hilton Elementary, followed by Morrison High School for two years, until sent to a private boarding school.
Below is a photo of Styron's boyhood home in Hilton Village and more information about him, courtesy of Jane Carter Webb, CNC/CNU Professor Emerita of Physics and Computer Science. This material is from page 104 of her book Newport News (Acadia, 2003).
Born in Newport News in 1925, where his father was an engineer in the Newport News Shipyard, William Styron first gained international attention for his novel Lie Down in Darkness (1952), set in "Port Warwick" (echoing what was then Warwick County, where Hilton Village was located).
In 1967 he published The Confessions of Nat Turner, based on an actual slave revolt in Southampton County, VA, in 1831, during which at least 60 white men, women & children were slaughtered by a group of male slaves led by a slave named Nat Turner. This novel earned Styron a Pulitzer Prize in 1968.
Five years later, during the CNC presidency of James C. Windsor, Styron was the first internationally famous person to speak at Christopher Newport College. He delivered the Commencement Address at CNC's May 20, 1973 graduation, held in Ratcliffe Gymnasium. His address is housed in the library at Duke University, where Styron earned his B.A. in English in 1947.
Wikipedia photo of William Styron. Source not given.
Other famous works by Styron include Sophie's Choice (1979), which resulted in a move in 1982 starring Meryl Streep, and Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness (1990), the author's autobiographical account of his long struggle with depression. The title came from John Milton's Paradise Lost, in which Milton described Hell as "darkness visible." William Styron died of pneumonia in 2006 at age 81.
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First published January 10, 2012
Revised and republished September 2, 2016
Driving the Two Riverside Hospital Buses
in 1968 - 69
Frances Lokey Newman's Memories
Edited by A. Jane Chambers
Photo of Riverside's "Green Monster" from CNC's 1966 TRIDENT, p. 76.
Frances (Fran) Lokey entered the Riverside School of Professional Nursing (RSPN) in 1968 after graduating from Warwick High School. Her father was overseas in the Army and her mother found it financially difficult to send her to RSPN. When Fran learned that she could earn money by chauffeuring her classmates, she happily accepted the job of driving Riverside's two buses back and forth to CNC and other places during her freshman year (1968 - 69) and the following summer. Her salary paid for her CNC tuition for the required courses the student nurses took during their first year.
Strangely enough, Fran was not required to have either a chauffeur's license or bus-driving experience to drive the Riverside buses. "I knew how to drive a stick shift and that was all that was required other than a having a driver's license," she recalls. She doesn't remember having any lessons either. She just "learned in the job."
Photos of buses are courtesy of Frances Lokey Newman, who is not in either picture.
The buses were both used vehicles. Fran doesn't know the background of the smaller, white bus (above L), but was told that the larger one (above R), called "the Green Bomb," or "Green Monster," was "a hand me down from the navy." The white bus could carry only 15 passengers, so it was used less often than the green one, which could carry at least 40 people. It's the bus most CNC students saw on our campus. However, in the summer of 1969, the white bus was "used more often," Fran recalls, because "we lost a lot of our class" during the freshman year. The nursing program, with its heavy load of CNC courses that first year, was very demanding, so the dropout rate was high.
Driving the white bus was rather easy. It had an automatic transmission and wasn't very hard to park. Driving the "green monster" was much more challenging, however. "It had 5 gears and would slip out of gear easily, so it was a very tricky job to get into the correct gears without grinding them," Fran recalls. "It was also a challenge to park it." Also, like CNC's "Blue Goose," the old bus "never got warm in the winter and didn't have air conditioning."
Fran remembers that getting the old green bus ready for an early trip was somewhat eerie: "I would have to go early, in the dark, alone, down to the maintenance section of the hospital, located behind the main building, to warm up the bus before it would move, and then drive it around to the front of the nursing school for the others to climb on."
She remembers too waiting in the bus at CNC for all of the nursing students to come out after classes ended and board the bus. "After exams it was tricky," she recalls, " because we didn't all come out at the same time and I never knew if everyone had finished the exams. I left only one person behind--one time. She let me know about it when she got back to the dorm!"
Photo of Fran as a young nurse was sent by her.
Looking back at her Riverside chauffeuring experiences 47 years later, Fran observed: "It was certainly a challenge but a lot of fun driving the buses. It helped me get where I am today. I've just recently retired after 45 years of nursing and loved every minute of it." The photo to the left, provided by Fran, shows her at the Student Health Clinic at ODU on her last day of working, in May of 2016.
FRANCES LOKEY NEWMAN completed her RN in 1971, her BSN at CNC in 1988 (also receiving the Florence Nightingale Award), and her MSN (in Family Nursing Practice) at ODU in 1996. She worked 25 years in the Emergency Dept. at Dixie Hospital (later Hampton General), the last 6 years as the manager. Then she worked for Bon Secours--Mary Immaculate (Newport News) in Family Practice until 2003. From 2003 - 2006, she was a consultant for Bon Secours--Harbor View (Suffolk) in development and implementation of Emergency Dept. Health Research of Hampton Roads. She retired from ODU's Student Health Dept. in May, 2016. She and her husband, Ken, reside in Suffolk. They have two daughters (both with university degrees) and one granddaughter.
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Published August 19, 2016
An Eye-Catching Tribute to Dr. James C. Windsor
by A. Jane Chambers
with details from Ruth Pepe and Joan Green
Pepe family photo.
Ruth Pepe, wife of CNC First Decader Ray Pepe (AA, 1965) recently sent me the above picture of this tribute to Dr. Jim Windsor that is located at 13128 Warwick Blvd., outside the dental office of Dr. William T. (Bill) Green. At my request, the Pepes later stopped by Dr. Green's office to learn more about the sign and his relationship with Dr. Windsor, but were unable to talk with him because he was with a patient. His receptionist told them Dr. Green was a friend of Dr. Windsor's.
I was able to connect by phone with Dr. Green's wife, Joan, who gave me more information. Joan Green was a wife, mother, and elementary school teacher when she met Jim Windsor in the 1970s at CNC, where she audited some of his psychology classes. A family friendship grew when she helped Jim, then CNC's president, with CNC's first major fund-raising drive, and also began sending some of her pupils to Joan Windsor, Jim's wife, for counseling. The two families were close from then on.
"Seek truth, live love, do good"-- the words on the sign, are from a book Dr. Windsor had been writing in his last years. These words were quoted twice by Barry Wood in his "In Memoriam" speech at the service for Jim. Dr. and Mrs. Green decided to have them put on this sign as a tribute to their long-time friend. The sign was put up in early April, after the memorial service for Dr. Windsor.
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Published August 19, 2016
Riverside Nursing Students at CNC
in the Early Years
by A. Jane Chambers
Riverside's Class of 1970 as freshmen. From CNC's 1968 Trident, p. 77; reprinted in Beth S. Mollick's "From Student Nurse to Faculty Wife and Nursing Faculty," in Memories of Christopher Newport College: The First Decade, p. 202.
The students in the Riverside Hospital School of Nursing joined our Christopher Newport College family in its second year of existence, academic year 1962-63, while CNC was still located in the old Daniel building on 32nd Street in downtown Newport News. Before that time, the Riverside nursing students took their freshman-year college courses at Old Dominion College (now University) which, like CNC, was then a branch of The College of William and Mary. An undated, unidentified newspaper article provided by Lorena Elder Smith (CNC Class of 1963) states that in the first nursing group at CNC (1962-63) there were 35 students and in the second group (1963-64) there would be 40 ("Va.'s Biggest Community College, Newport, Opens Registration Books Today"). The content dates the article at early September of 1963; it was no doubt in either the Daily Press or the Times-Herald, the morning (DP) and afternoon (T-H) newspapers in Newport News then.
Above is a photo of an artist's rendering of the Riverside School of Nursing and Dormitory (1963), which was located on the grounds of what was then named Riverside Hospital, on J. Clyde Morris Blvd. This picture is located at the Riverside College of Health Careers, home of the School of Nursing since 2005. RCHC is located on Main Street in Newport News, between Warwick Blvd. and Jefferson Ave. This photo is courtesy of Beth Shepherd Mollick (RN, Riverside, 1972), who recently retired after a long career on the nursing faculty at Riverside.
By fall 1964, CNC had its New Campus on Shoe Lane, and"The nurses," as they were generally called, traveled the short distance (less than a mile) between their dorm and CNC in an old light green school bus which they called "The Green Monster." Several former nursing students have told me that they drove this bus, which was sometimes challenging. The two students in this photo (right) haven't been identified, but they were probably in Riverside's class of 1968.
The newspaper article cited earlier ("Va's Biggest") mentioned CNC Director Cunningham as saying the nursing students "are made as much a part of the college's regular student body as possible." But since the nurses attended classes only one year of their three, and had classes almost always as a group, seldom mingling with other students, they tended not to be as closely linked to CNC as was hoped.
From CNC's 1966 Trident, p. 76; reprinted in Beth S. Mollick's essay in Memories of Christopher Newport College, p. 204.
In the early years, CNC did try to include the nursing students in CNC life as much as possible. For example, there was a "Nurses News" column in the student newspaper, The Captain's Log. Also the first (1964) and second (1965) issues of CNC's yearbook, the Trident, included individual portraits of the Riverside students (see below), and some later issues included group portraits (see photo at the top of this article).
First page of portraits of the Riverside nursing students. 1964 Trident, unnumbered 45th page.
First page of portraits of the Riverside nursing students. 1965 Trident, page 60.
In 2009, when I began looking for the CNC students of the early years, whom I dubbed "CNC's First Decaders," I searched also for the Riverside nursing students. Patricia Clark kindly provided me with lists of early graduates of the Riverside School of Professional Nursing (RSPN). Although there was no (or invalid) contact information for most of these alumni, I located about 85, whom I invited to the First Reunion (2011) of the CNC First Decaders.
RSPN alumni (L - R) Beth S. Mollick (Class of 1972), Jim Lowell (Class of 1970) and Dalton Blankenship (Class of 1977) at the 2011 CNC First Decaders Reunion at CNU. Photo courtesy of Beth.
Among the few RSPN alumni who attended that 2-evening event were the three in the above photo, all of whom have continued to be involved in various ways in the CNC First Decaders (FD) group. Currently, about 60 RSPN are still on my mailing list. Some read this website but too few attend our FD events. I hope many more of "The Nurses" will become interested in joining our group and attending our events at CNU and elsewhere. I am on the Board of CNU's recently formed 1961 Historical Preservation Club, dedicated to locating and preserving CNC/CNU memorabilia that will be displayed on a rotating basis at the Alumni House, now under construction on campus. The 1961 Club hopes that RSPN memorabilia will be a part of that Alumni House collection.
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Published July 22, 2016
Track Shirt Mysteries
by A. Jane Chambers
First Decader Joe Hutchko sent me on July 13th an interesting email including photos of two T-shirts he "uncovered" at his home. The first one (below left: blue) Joe believes is his "CNC Track shirt, vintage 1966." The second shirt (below right: light gray) "is a bit of a puzzle," he wrote. He had always believed it belonged to his daughter, but the shirt reads "College," and his daughter attended Christopher Newport in the first decade of 2000, after CNCbecame CNU. He doesn't know "the year this shirt was purchased" and wonders if "someone else can put a date" on it.
I forwarded Joe's email with these photos to about two dozen people--mainly the men on my list of early CNC track team members, plus former track coaches Raoul Weinstein and Jim Hubbard, and the Board members of CNU's 1961 Historical Preservation Club. I asked them "Can you ID the 2nd shirt?" Few replied to my email. To my surprise, however, with one exception, those who did respond said nothing about that light gray shirt, but instead challenged Joe's memory of his blue tee, which he said he wore on the track team in 1966.
Bob Deans, co-captain of CNC's first track team, was the first to point out that Joe Hutchko's blue shirt was not part of the team's uniform. "I don't recognize either shirt," he wrote. "We supplied our own practice outfits. Our first uniform had no CNC letters on them." Photos of the team in action on pages 84 -87 of the 1966 Trident support Bob's recollection.
1966 Trident, p. 84.
Coach Raoul Weinstein emailed a week later, addressing Joe and me. " I do not remember any shirts in the 3 years I coached track, 1965-67, that looked like the blue and red-orange one," he wrote. "I think the only track shirts we had were the uniforms that were sleeveless and in navy and grey." The pictures in the 1966 Trident, although in black and white, support his memory. There was no 1967 yearbook for comparison.
Wade Williams wrote, " My track singlet from the spring of '66 was gray with navy blue lettering," reinforcing Weinstein's statement. "I don't have one," Wade added, sadly. The photo here, from the 1968 Trident, p. 61, shows Paul Smeltzer (L) in what looks like the team's later shirt, which includes lettering. Also in this photo are Wade (M) and John Dykeson (R).
The above photo was of a practice run, not a track meet. Both Bob Deans and Coach Weinstein wrote that team members wore their own outfits to practices. "Everyone came to practice in whatever they owned on their own," wrote Weinstein, "and our uniforms were only used in actual meets." Therein lies a clue, perhaps, to that blue shirt with orange letters.
Dr. Sean Heuvel, Chair of the 1961 Historical Preservation Club, and a young assistant professor at CNU, wrote concerning the gray T-shirt with the cartoon-like shoe: "This is just an educated guess-- but that second t-shirt looks to me like it dates from the early 1990s. Maybe it was produced around 1990 or 1991, right before the name transfer to CNU."
Please help solve these track shirt mysteries. Share this article, or the two photos, with all you know--friends, neighbors, children--who attended CNC. Especially show the second photo to those who attended CNC in the 1980s and 1990s. You can copy the photos from the article.
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Published July 8, 2016
Creating CNC'S First Psychology Laboratory
with Only $200
by F. Samuel Bauer
Professor Emeritus
The recent passing of Jim Windsor, CNC's President during the 1970s, set me to musing about those early years at the College and the struggle for recognition and funding. I came to CNC in the fall of 1971 after a temporary two-year appointment in the Psychology Department at the College of William and Mary, CNC's “mother” institution. CNC had awarded its first four-year degrees the previous spring, and was in an expansion phase in terms of course offerings and the faculty to support them. But there was essentially no money for things like lab equipment, furnishings, or anything else except the salaries of the newly hired faculty.
CNC's Psychology Department was seeking a specialist in my field, physiological psychology and related areas in experimental psychology. With my temporary contract at W&M ending, I was delighted to get an interview for that position. After meeting the department faculty, some of whom I already knew, I was interviewed by Marshall Booker, Dean of the Faculty at the time, and then ushered into Jim Windsor’s impressive paneled office for the final part of my interview. Jim was affable and told me that I was the only candidate with the appropriate credentials to fit the job description and that he thought I would be selected by the department. At the time I did not know that he was the founder of the Department and in the early sixties its only faculty member. Our conversation turned to what I would need to establish a laboratory for the Physiological Psychology course, and I promised to give him an itemized list with sources and prices for the essential items needed to launch the lab.
Sam Bauer in the 1972 Trident, p.121.
Jim Windsor in the 1970 Trident, p.23.
Joanne Squires in the 1972 Trident, p. 121.
I soon signed a contract to begin the following September, with an option to teach a summer course, relocate my office and begin work on the lab during the summer.Joanne Squires, Psychology Department chairperson at the time, proudly showed me the room in Wingfield Hall that would become my lab, and the adjoining observation room that would become my office.
The newest building at the time (completed in 1970), Wingfield had been planned for the expansion of the department, so sinks had been installed in two classrooms, one of which was to become my lab. Also, a vivarium room off the service area had been added, to house the animals we would use for research.
Photo of Wingfield by Thomas L. Williams, printed on p. 32 of Christopher Newport University, by Sean M. Heuvel.
At the beginning of the summer, I arrived on the campus with a station wagon full of books for my office, which had no bookshelves or even a desk, and an appointment with Jim to find out what my equipment budget would be. I hoped to get the necessary items ordered so that they could be ready for the Fall semester. Jim told me he had allocated $200 for my lab and was sorry it could not be more. Masking my disappointment--shock actually-- I left and returned to my empty room 120 in Wingfield to formulate a plan to create a lab by September.
To spend my $200 most effectively, since the sum would not even allow the purchase of a single lab instrument I needed, I decided to buy wood and other materials needed to build lab benches, and to spend the summer building them. I hoped to be able also to borrow some equipment from W&M to at least add a modest lab component to my Fall class.
Building and Grounds supervisor Mike Cazares, who had his own table saw and tools in the furnace room of Smith Hall, agreed to let me use his tools after I demonstrated appropriate knowledge of their safe use. I toted all of the wood across the campus to cut it as needed, since at that time there was no service road leading to Wingfield Hall, and driving across the lawn was possible only in dry weather.
Photo of Mike Cazares working on CNC's alarm system is courtesy of his daughter Sandy Cazares Allard.
That summer I built several lab benches, found some spare lab stools around campus, borrowed some needed equipment from W&M, and fabricated other equipment from items I scrounged from the State Surplus warehouse in Richmond. Fortunately I knew that there were new rat cages at W&M that did not match the needs of the department. They had been purchased by the architect when Millington Hall, which housed both the Psychology and Biology departments, was constructed. Stan Williams, chairman of W&M's Psychology Department, graciously transferred them to CNC. So Odell, CNC's custodian and general campus helper, and I fired up the old stake-bed CNC truck, drove to Williamsburg, loaded the cages and racks, and somehow made it back to CNC intact. Overall I built and scrounged enough equipment to teach a lab that first year.
The budget improved slightly, so each year I was able to add an instrument or so to the lab inventory, but the competition for funds with departments such as Biology, Chemistry and Physics was always fierce. It was not until the early 1990s, when the State started the so-called “equipment trust fund,” that the department finally acquired state-of-the-art apparatus.
The benches I built in the summer of 1971 were still in my lab when I retired in 2008. So I guess my decision on how to spend my $200 was fairly sound. Jim Windsor always supported our department and returned there as a professor after leaving the presidency. We laughed frequently about that allocation of $200. Well spent I might add.
Sam Bauer (L) chatting with Barry Wood at the 2012 First Decaders Picnic. Photo by Charlie Snead.
Dr. F. Samuel (Sam) Bauerearned his B.A., M.A., and Ph. D. at the University of Illinois and served in CNC/U's Psychology Department for 37 years as both professor and department chair. He and his wife are enjoying their retirement years in Virginia's mountains. Also a Faculty First Decader, Sam attends FD reunions when possible and occasionally writes articles for our website.
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Published June 24, 2016
Jim Windsor Stories
by Harold Cones
As I am sure we all were, I was saddened by the death of Jim Windsor. Jim was a good friend and a wonderful colleague and although we did not see each other as often as I would have liked, it seems strange to think I will not see him again. But I do have wonderful memories of our old days together at CNC and I would like to share some “typical” Jim Windsor stories.
Dr. Jim Windsor in December of 2008, at the Peninsula Fine Arts Book Party celebrating the publication of Memories of Christopher Newport College: The First Decade. He was a featured speaker.
Jim always acted and dressed like a gentleman: ramrod straight posture, blue suit, ruddy face, pleasant demeanor, unique sense of humor, great laugh. When he became president in 1970 and was presented to the faculty for the first time as “President Windsor” at an afternoon faculty meeting, he was introduced as “Jim and his lovely wife Joan.” From that point on, whenever there was a public appearance of the president (he was frequently with Joan), he was always introduced as “Jim and his lovely wife Joan.” Many male faculty begin to jokingly introduce their wives as “my lovely wife so-and-so” and referred to their wives as “the lovely Mrs. so-and-so.” It quickly became a thing, and even now, in 2016, I still introduce my wife as “the lovely Mrs. Cones,” and a number of my colleagues from that era still refer to their wives as “the lovely Mrs. X”). When Jack Anderson was introduced at a faculty meeting for the first time as our new president, the introduction was “Jack Anderson and his wife Joyce.” In a loud stage whisper, someone in the audience whispered, “I guess she is not lovely.”
Money was scarce in the early days of CNC and Jim was very pleased with the fact that he could run a state college cheaper than any other school in Virginia. One of the ways he managed a tight budget was to personally approve each purchase request. At the beginning of each year, he went through every proposed budget, line by line, and eliminated things that he considered too expensive. During the first year of Jim’s presidency, the woefully under equipped chemistry department ordered its first real piece of modern lab equipment, a machine which required a platinum electrode. As Jim went through the budget, he crossed out the platinum electrode but left the machine (which of course was useless without the electrode). When asked about that decision, Jim replied, “We are not a platinum school.” We later talked him into it buying the electrode, but it took some doing.
The biology department started the extended field trip program in 1969. Because the college at that time had no vehicles (except a dilapidated school bus which hauled the basketball team around), students drove their own cars on field trips to Florida and Maine. The department of course had very little money and hardly a trip went by that I did not send a memo to Jim asking if the College could spring a few extra dollars to help offset the price of gasoline and camping. Although our students contributed money towards those costs, many them who worked to pay their own way through school did not have a great deal of money. On one such occasion Jim responded with a short memo stating that the hundred dollars I had asked for was unfortunately not available (“$100 is a lot of money”) and he hoped that we would have money to support the trips the next year.
In the earliest days of the college, when we only had three or four buildings, landscaping consisted of the contractor's finding some old bushes somewhere and throwing them in front of the various buildings as they were completed. The biology department, under Jean Pugh, and with students and faculty, spent many Saturdays landscaping the campus from items that we acquired in various places, such as thinnings from plants at home. The only professionally landscaped garden on campus was a very small plot at Smith Hall that was overlooked by a window in the president’s office. Many Saturdays we snuck into that garden to “thin it” and, until the massive explosion of building all over campus, much of the mature landscaping folks saw was from cuttings and plants that were removed methodically from the presidential landscape. Jim told us some time later that he would check on Monday mornings to see how clever we had been at removing material and covering up the evidence.
When Jim stepped down as president in 1980, he indicated that he felt the school had grown to the point that it was time for him to step aside to allow for a new president, one who had worked with a larger institution. Scotty Cunningham had made a similar statement when he moved on. Both of these men had the personalities, dedication, and self-awareness that allowed them to take steps to move on. I strongly feel that there would be no modern day Christopher Newport University if it had not been for the unselfish service provided by these two men to grow a partially wooded, muddy, agricultural field into a world-class university. Both are now gone, but the university they founded remains as their strong legacy.
1971 TRIDENT photo of Dr. Cones in his CNC office. Page 18.
Dr. Harold N. Cones, Jr.joined the CNC faculty as Instructor of Biology in 1968 and remained for 40 years, retiring in 2008 as Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biology. He earned his BS degree at Maryville College, his MA at The College of William and Mary, and his Ph. D at Bowling Green State University. He chaired the Department of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Science for 27 years. He is the author of seven books and fifty other publications. He is also a devoted member of the CNC First Decaders and a frequent contributor to the FD website.
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Published April 15, 2016
Portrait of Mr. Usry Found
by A. Jane Chambers
All photographs of the Usry portrait are courtesy of Elizabeth Bentley, Office Manager for Alumni Relations & University Events, CNU.
On October 22, 2015, ChristinaLuers, Archives Assistant at Trible Library, while in the Freeman Center on an errand, happened to see the long-lost oil portrait of Robert Madison (Pat) Usry. It was in the Athletic Department's break room, on top of a refrigerator. Acting Athletic Director Judy Stenzhorn told her the department had had the painting for years. It was given to them by the administration because of the athletic scholarship that bears Mr. Usry's name. Ms. Stenzhorn was quite willing to let go of the painting so it could be preserved and prominently displayed elsewhere, such as in the Alumni House. Including the frame, the painting is 36" x 29" and both the painting and frame need restoration work. Temporarily, the portrait is now housed in the office of M. Baxter Vendrick, Jr., CNU's Director of Alumni Relations.
The Usry painting's original campus home was the Usry Board Room, Room 213 on the second floor of the first Student Center (now demolished). The room was so named, after Mr. Usry's death (1971), because of the history professor's many contributions to the fledging college since its doors first opened in September of 1961. Before his death, Mr. Usry had paid for all of that room's furnishings, from the long table with its comfortable chairs to the other furnishings, including even the curtains. Such contributions were typical of the man, who dearly loved CNC.
According to Professor EmeritusLawrence Barron (Barry) Wood, Jr., the Usry portrait was commissioned shortly after Mr. Usry's death in 1971, as a gift to CNC from the Alumni Association (See plaque, right). The artist was Jack Whitney Clifton, one of the most prominent artists in the Tidewater area at that time, particularly in the area of portrait painting.
Born in Norfolk, Clifton grew up in Newport News and later lived in Hampton. He was our first studio artist at CNC. He taught painting part time at the College for five years and counted among his students artist Betty Anglin, later a major member of CNC's Department of Fine and Performing Arts. His Daily Press obituary (August 27, 1990) states that Clifton "played an active role in the local arts community while winning national and international recognition," with his works displayed at well-known art museums, universities "and numerous private collections."
Clifton's obituary states he was "best known locally as a portrait painter whose subjects ... included Alvin D. Chandler, a former president of the College of William and Mary, and retired judges from the Newport News courts." Although the Usry portrait (detail top L) is a good likeness of CNC's first professor of history, Barry Wood recalls that Clifton was not totally satisfied with it, because all he had to work with was the color photograph of Mr. Usry pasted inside copies of the 1965 Trident on page 10. That photograph (bottom L) was taken because that yearbook was dedicated to the highly respected and beloved professor, who otherwise probably would not have agreed to be thus photographed. Following his death, nowhere in his belongings could be found any other professional pictures of him. He was not a vain man.
Many of us hope that the next, and final, home of the Usry portrait will be Christopher Newport's Alumni House, expected to be completed and ready for occupancy by December of this year. Meanwhile, for an interesting verbal portrait of Mr. Usry, see the article by Dr. Mario Mazzarella, "Remembering Robert M. 'Pat' Usry: History Professor Extraordinaire," inMemories of Christopher Newport College: The First Decade, pages 214 - 217. There are also student memories of Mr. Usry here and there in that book, as well as in this Website's Archives.
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Published March 11, 2016
Remembering Registrar Jane Carney Pillow
(1932 -- 2009)
by A. Jane Chambers
with E. Graham Pillow
When Registrar Jane Carney Pillow, a William & Mary alumna (A.B. Sociology; M.Ed., Guidance and Counseling), joined our CNC crew in July 1965, there were already three of her family members on board. As Jane said, it was truly "a family affair." Her mother, Edna Carney, hired in 1961, was Scotty Cunningham's secretary; her husband, Graham Pillow, hired in 1962, was teaching physics and computer classes, and her sister-in-law, Brenda Carney, was working toward two CNC degrees (A.A., 1966; B.A., History, 1971).
Jane andGraham Pillow were an important team at CNC during the 1960s- early 1970s, a time when Graham (A.B. and M.T.S., W&M) brought our College into the emerging world of computers, which enormously helped the Admissions and Registration Office with tasks such as registration and class rolls. Graham became chair of Computer Studies and, with Hugh C. Hilliard Jr., who joined CNC in 1970, designed our first interdependent B.S. degree, Management Information Science (MIS).
Newport News Times-Herald, Feb. 4, 1969.
Combining courses in business, psychology, and computer science, the MIS degree paved the way for students such as Wilma Riden (later Moore), shown above, to have highly successful careers in information technology. One of the first to earn this degree at CNC (1972), Wilma ended a 30-year career in information technology for the City of Newport News in 2006 as Deputy Director of the city's Department of Information Technology.
The Jane Carney - Graham Pillowteam began in the 1950s, when the two were students at William and Mary. "We were married in 1953 at First Baptist Church (downtown Newport News)," Graham recalls, "during the summer between our junior and senior year. I worked at Kings Arms Tavern and she worked as switchboard operator at Williamsburg Inn." Jane was expecting their first son, David, by their senior year, so "her academic gown doubled as a maternity gown at graduation." Both boys were born during the four years Graham was in the Army: David in Newport News in 1954, Steven at Fort Belvoir in 1957. Eventually the Pillow family would grow to include 9 grandchildren--6 by Steve (one stillborn)and 3 by David.
J. B. Daniel Building. Daily Press photo.
Jane Pillow's people skills were honed in the early years of their marriage. "Shetaught elementary grades in Maryland andin Fairfax, Virginia, while I was in the Army," Graham recalls. When the couple returned to Newport News, she taught at Daniel Elementary--neither of them realizing that the old school on 32nd St. would be the first home of CNC and that, first, Jane's mother, Edna Carney; then, Graham; and finally, Jane too would be working there.
During the transition to 4-year status, Jane worked individually with every senior in the first 4-year graduating class, being certain each had the correct number of credits and appropriate GPA. "To my amazement," she said, "the yearbook staff dedicated that year's annual to me. It has remained one of my highest honors."
Jane proudly shepherded her flock of 1971 graduates at CNC's first 4-year baccalaureate ceremony. 1971 Trident, p. 13.
She well deserved this honor. As stated in the Trident "Dedication," in that academic year (1970-71), Jane Pillow " had an added responsibility--a senior class that needed her guidance in planning graduation." Students were at her desk "throughout the day, and for each she [had] a smile, a word of encouragement, and, more often than not ... [knew] the student well enough to call him by name." Her work included "counting hours for the seniors ... a long and tiring job. Not only [did] quality point averages have to be computed but transcripts [had] to be sent to graduate schools and gowns and invitations ...ordered. All of these jobs were necessary for the first class of CNC to graduate."
Nancy Ramseur (L) & Jane Pillow in the Admission & Registration Office in Smith Hall. Pillow family photo.
Jane was CNC's second registrar, working under Nancy Ramseur, the first registrar, who came down in 1960 from William & Mary to open the college and soon became its first Dean of Admissions. The two women were close friends as well as coworkers, having in common not only a dedication to CNC but a shared love of and involvement in music. Both not only sang in their church choirs but also performed with other musical groups.
Jane's involvement with music was lifelong. Graham remembers that "she took piano and voice lessons throughout her high school years. Voice became her area of choice (soprano) and she sang in high school and college choruses. She also played the Autoharp, a stringed instrument with built-in chord stops played with a felt pick, which she used for herself when singing.She loved to sing for groups while we were working but she did not continue formal training after we had children."
Jane and Graham became a musical duo after Graham retired and began playing keyboard. "We did many programs together at retirement homes and campgrounds and RV parks as we traveled around the country," Graham wrote. "We did as many as 40 programs in a year after we settled in Florida. Jane was the leader of our chorus when we moved into a retirement facility and she was still singing up to the last chemotherapy when the doctor said no more."
Jane served CNC until June of 1974, when she accepted an offer to be the Coordinator of the Tidewater Consortium. The couple left Newport News and moved to Charlottesville in 1976 when Graham accepted a position as Director of the Medical Computing Center at UVA. While there Jane attended UVA 1976-80 working on her doctoral degree in administration and assisting in the Registrars Office part time.
Jane & Graham in the later years of their lives together. Pillow family photo.
In 1980 Graham accepted an offer as Assistant Vice President for Computing Services at the University of Oregon Health Sciences Center in Portland--a decision, he says, that "messed up the plan" for Jane to complete her doctorate at UVA. However, in Oregon she enjoyed participating in a grant program designed to measure the benefits of life style changes following severe health problems. The Pillows next moved to Ithaca , NY, where Graham "worked in a private college... in charge of computing services." In Ithaca Jane again worked as a Registrar, in a community college, for 5 years. " When I retired she retired," Graham wrote.
The Pillows shared 58 years together, remembered fondly by Graham with "many ups and downs of a lifetime of children and growing old together." CNC was very fortunate to have the talents and dedication of both Jane and Graham during the first decade, and half of the second, of its history.
Jane Carney Pillow lost her battle with cancer on August 9, 2009.
Published January 15, 2016
Best Early Photos in the Daily Press's
Look Back: CNC Photo Gallery,
with New Captions for Some
by A. Jane Chambers
The Daily Press gallery of 39 photos called Look Back: Christopher Newport College is an exciting and valuable historical collection of photos from the early 1960s through July of 2015 (www.dailypress.com/...look-back-christopher-newport). If you saw the gallery before this September, you might have noticed, however, a lack of information in some captions (especially the 18 aerial photos) and some occasional inaccuracies in other captions (such as incorrect naming of buildings). I recently began working with Daily Press Librarian Susan Conner to provide historically accurate details in the captions. Below are 10 of the best early photos, some with new captions now posted in the gallery. The process of revising captions is not yet completed, however, and I am seeking YOUR help in identifying CNC students shown in two photos here .
The first change made in this photo gallery was adding the opening date and original address of CNC to the running caption at the bottom of all 39 pages, so that it now reads: Christopher Newport University started in September, 1961 as Christopher Newport College, a two-year branch of the College of William and Mary housed in the former John W. Daniel Elementary School on 222 - 32nd Street in downtown Newport News.
To my knowledge, this is the only photo of the Daniel building that is not a front view--an exciting addition to our memorabilia for the Alumni House! Many readers will remember that fire escape and parking lot. NEW CAPTION:This photo shows the north side of Christopher Newport College in the early 1960s, with its fenced-in parking lot, next to a city parking lot, and the building's back, which faced 33rd Street.
The caption for this picture needed only two details added, that Newport Hall was the first building and that the new campus was on Shoe Lane. NEW CAPTION: In this Aug. 18, 1964, aerial photo Christopher Newport Hall, the first building, was almost completed at the new Shoe Lanesite for Christopher Newport College.
Gosnold Hall was simply called "this building" in the original caption, which did give a date, however. Readers now have the name plus more details. NEW CAPTION: CNC's second building and first science building, Gosnold Hallis rapidlynearing completion on the Shoe Lane campus of Christopher Newport College in Sept. 1965.
This photo is one of six aerial views in this early part of the gallery that simply state "aerial view," but do give the year (1967 or 1973). NEW CAPTION: Aerial view of CNC in 1967. Top corner left: Ratcliffe Gymnasium (completed Spring, 1967). Top right: Gosnold Hall (science building, completed in 1965). Center: Newport Hall (1st building, completed in 1964). Bottom right: Smith Hall (facing traffic circle) and adjoining Captain John Smith Library (both parts nearing completion).
This picture a year or two later includes 3 of the 4 roads and neighborhoods surrounding CNC as well as the campus. NEW CAPTION: Aerial view of CNC and neighborhood in 1968 or 1969, showing (top) Moore's Lane, (left) Shoe Lane and part of Ferguson High School, and (bottom) Warwick Blvd. Campus buildings: (top right) Ratcliffe Gymnasium (completed Spring 1967) and below it, Gosnold Hall (completed 1965); facing the traffic circle, Newport Hall (opened Fall 1964) and below the circle, the Smith Hall-Capt. John Smith Library building (completed Fall 1967).
The original caption was accurate: "Students at Christopher Newport College working on Earth Day in 1971." However, it would be nice if we could identify at least some of the students and add their names to the caption. I recently sent this photo to over 150 students and faculty members who were at CNC in 1970 - 73. So far I have one positive identification: Philip Wignall is the young man in the center, in a t-shirt, seeming to look at the camera while pushing a shovel into the ground with his left foot. If you see yourself or someone you recognize in this picture, please contact me atcncmemories61_71@yahoo.com.
This photo is one of two in the gallery showing the parking problem at CNC in 1972. Both original captions are good and the license plates in the pictures verify the year. The second photo (not shown here) is a view from the Shoe Lane entrance looking toward the buildings. Whose car is that parked beside the "No Parking" sign? Do you recognize your car in either of these pictures? If so, contact me (email address above).
The many available parking spaces suggest this picture was taken either very early in the morning or very late in the afternoon. A new 400-car parking lot had been built by then also. The original caption gives the date as October 1973. NEW CAPTION: October 1973 aerial view of CNC showing all 7 buildings then: UPPER ROW (L-R): Ratcliffe Gymnasium , Gosnold Hall (science building), & Mike's Greenhouse; CENTER ROW (L-R): the recently completed (1973) 3-part Campus Center, Newport Hall (facing traffic circle) & part of Wingfield Hall, and RIGHT: the Smith Hall-Captain John Smith Library building.
The original caption for the photo on the left is certainly adequate: LEFT TO RIGHT: Steve Franklin, Dean William H. Polis and Kenny Flick. The flag was a gift from the senior class in 1972. However, we need more information about why each person is in this picture. Polis was Dean of Students; Kenny designed the flag; but in what capacity was Steve there? More importantly, we need to find the flag (if it still exists) so that it can be displayed in the Alumni House soon to be built on the campus.
A time capsule was sealed December 1973 at Christopher Newport College reads the original caption for this last photo. Many readers might recognize then-President Dr. James C. Windsor, CNC's second captain, but who is the student? And why is he there? This caption needs more information and perhaps a statement about when the capsule was opened.
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Published September 11, 2015
Mural in Ferguson Center Honors Ferguson High and Warwick Junior High:
Created by 2015 CNU AlumnusAndrew Jelonek
by A. Jane Chambers
with information from Andrew (A. J.) Jelonek
The ideaof creating a mural inside Ferguson Center to honor the building’s previous incarnation as Warwick Junior High School (1956-1961), then Ferguson High School (1961-1996) came to CNU senior theater major Andrew A. (A.J.) Jelonek this January. He had volunteered earlier to write an historical piece on Ferguson Center at the request of CNU professor Dr. Laura Grace Godwin, who teaches Theater History and Arts Administration courses. She wanted such an article to include in a Theater CNU show program for the Center’s tenth anniversary. The Department of Theater and Dance (Theater CNU) is housed in Ferguson Center.
CNU website photo of the front of Ferguson Center, facing Warwick Blvd.
While researching for that paper, Jelonek realized that “CNU owes a lot to Ferguson High.” Yet there was nothing in Ferguson Center honoring that fact. “Usually,when a school is converted for other uses,” he said, “there is some sort of memorial for it: a display case, a plaque, a mural … even an exhibit room.” Wanting to create something to “honor the former schools and their alumni” and “add a little bit of beauty and sense of place inside the Center,” he decided “to advocate for a memorial mural— something that I knew I could do before I graduated.”
The completed mural, based on the cover of Ferguson High’s 1982 yearbook.
Getting support for the project was Jelonek’s first step. Dr. John Nichols, Associate Professor of English at CNU and Director of CNU’s Film Studies program, helped Jelonek “come up with a game plan: I gathered support from fraternities, sororities, student organizations, heads of departments, faculty, and Concert Hall staff members that inhabit the Ferguson. I was also able to contact FHS alumni via a Facebook group.” To his delight, he “received unanimous support from all."
Armed with that support, he then met with William L. (Bill) Brauer, Executive Vice President of CNU, to propose the mural. “I showed him my five designs,” he recalls. “Mr. Brauer then showed them to President Trible. About a week after our meeting, Mr. Brauer let me know that the project was approved!” The design approved for the mural was a stylized drawing of the front façade of Ferguson High, from the cover of the school’s 1982 yearbook (photo left).
Jelonek chose for the mural’s location “a blank wall overthe original main staircase of the school, still extant, now serving as an auxiliary fire exit for second floor classrooms.” He felt this location was “a symbolic spot for the mural, as well as a place where people would just happen upon it.” Both Vice President Brauer and President Trible liked that location also.
Painting the mural took four days. The work was done in May, with the help of Jelonek’s friends and fellow theater majors Kathleen Elizabeth Veer (class of 2015) and Emily Grace Rowson (now a rising junior). Theater CNU let the three students borrow the department’s tools and paintbrushes and CNU Plant Operations provided the scaffolding. Jelonek used a projector to trace the computer image in painter’s tape, then the students painted in the lines. The two photos to the right show, first, the projector on the landing and the image on the wall during one of several tests and, second, Emily tracing a line to follow, using a level.
The photo above left shows Jelonek fixing a taped line. The middle photo shows Emily waiting a bit before applying a second coat. The words below the image and the clock face at the top right were painted last. The photo to the right shows the scaffolding and mural seconds before the scaffolding was taken down by the CNU men entering from outside. Visible also is the outside walkway under the columns in front of Ferguson Center.
Viewing the mural in the Center is easy, if you can climb a set of stairs. The aerial photographs below, provided by Jelonek, show where to enter the building (green arrows) and where to see the mural (blue arrows). The left photo is from the 1959 Warwick Junior High yearbook, The Cavalier. The right one is a current picture from Bing.com. After entering at the classroom entrance (green arrow), turn left and walk down the hall. Three-fourths down on the left side, there’s a wall jutting out into the hallway with a door on the side. Open that door and you’ll see the mural above the stairs.
Looking back on this experience, Andrew Jelonek wrote, “I am still amazed it happened. I could not be more grateful to CNU for allowing the mural's creation. I hope FHS and WJHS alumni will enjoy the tribute, because in the end, this is for them.” We are pleased that he had this inspiration and acted upon it.
ANDREW ADRIAN (A.J.) JELONEK, a native of Leesburg, VA, received his B.A. in Theater from CNU on May 9, 2015, with a minor in dance. He appeared onstage in various theater productions, including "Islands," "Chicago," "Ah, Wilderness," and "Once Upon a Mattress." He was a brother of Alpha Psi Omega, the national theater honors society, and served as the president of Initiative Student Theatre and the secretary of the Film Club of CNU. He spends his free time advocating for historical preservation, taking photos, and enjoying the company of his friends. His post-college plans and life are a work in progress. He currently resides in Williamsburg, VA.
A. J. Jelonek with CNU President and Mrs. Trible at the President's home during a party for members of the Class of 2015.
Published July 31, 2015
Remembering John Patrick (Pat) Giguere: U.S. Marine Pilot
KIA in Grenada, October 25, 1983
Part 1
by A. Jane Chambers
with information from Jan Giguere Clarke
Clearly Pat died a hero and it was my honor to know him.
Colonel Greg Baur (USMCR)
BACKGROUND
October 1983, revolution broke out in the Caribbean Island of Grenada when Deputy Prime Minister Bernard Coard deposed Prime Minister Maurice Bishop. With Cuban support, Grenadian rebels fermented anti-American sentiments that threatened the security of U.S. Citizens on the island, and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States appealed to the United States, Barbados, and Jamaica for assistance.
On October 25, U.S. Forces parachuted onto the island to begin what was ultimately a brief battle to liberate the people and protect American citizens. Over a period of several days the American presence grew to 7,000 Army Rangers, Navy SEALS, Airmen and Marines who engaged rebels and their Cuban advisors in action that resulted in 19 American combat deaths and 116 American wounded.The crash of a U.S. Marine helicopter on the opening day of the invasion resulted in awards of the Navy Cross and SIX Silver Stars to U.S. Marines (three of them Posthumously.) [Home of Heroes, Military Times]
Paratroopers landing in Grenada during Operation Urgent Fury. Photo from Home of Heroes, Military Times.
Cobra helicopter of Marine captain Tim Howard burning after being shot down by Cubans during Operation Urgent Fury. Photo by Joe Muccia.
THE FATAL BATTLE
CNC alumnus Pat Giguere (BS, Bus. Adm., 1972) was one of the three Marine officers posthumously awarded the Silver Star. His heroic action is thus described in his Citation, presented by then-President Ronald Reagan:
GIGUERE, PAT (KIA)
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Silver Star Medal (Posthumously) to Pat Giguere, Captain, U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as an AH-1T (TOW) Cobra Attack Helicopter Pilot in Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-ONE (HMM-261), Twenty-Second Marine Amphibious Unit conducting combat operations on the Island of Grenada in support of Operation URGENT FURY, on 25 October 1983.
While conducting an armed reconnaissance mission in support of ground forces, Captain Giguere's wingman was hit by multiple anti-aircraft artillery projectiles and forced down behind enemy lines. With full knowledge of their vulnerability as a single aircraft without a wingman's protective cover and with total disregard for their own safety, Captain Giguere and his Co-Pilot exposed their aircraft to heavy anti-aircraft artillery fire while engaging enemy ground forces and preventing the certain capture of the helpless and gravely wounded crew. Requesting assistance from a rescue aircraft and organizing the rescue attempt, Captain Giguere and his Co-Pilot fearlessly continued to engage the anti-aircraft emplacements that encircled the zone protecting the more vulnerable rescue aircraft and buying enough time to effect a successful rescue. Purposely remaining behind until the rescue aircraft could escape the enemy fire, Captain Giguere sacrificed his life after a gallant struggle so that others might live. By his extraordinary courage, uncommon valor, and steadfast devotion to duty in the face of danger, Captain Giguere reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
This photo of Pat as Marine appears in several places on the internet. Appears to be a USMC photo.
Silver Star award, named after the small silver star within the gold star.
USMC photo of an AH-1 Cobra firing during Operation Urgent Fury. This is the type of attack helo Pat was piloting.
Retired Colonel Greg Baur (USMCR), commander of Pat’s squadron, gave this first-hand account of Pat’s death in a January 18, 2012 email to the Giguere family:
He and the flight of 2 cobras that he led were sent to support an Army unit that had been pinned down on the single highway running up to the West side of the island coming up from Pt. Salinas. Pat’s second cobra (not HIS helo) was shot down by an anti aircraft site that no one knew was there. Pat stayed in the area, making gun passes on the site until he ran out of ammunition, while a rescue of the downed crew was launched. Pat and his copilot continued to press the attack and cover the downed pilots even after he ran out of ammunition. When his aircraft was hit, the helo impacted the water in a directly nose down attitude. The crash was unsurvivable. The downed pilot, Capt. Tim Howard was recovered, but his copilot Jeb Seagle was executed when he left the crash site…. Clearly Pat died a hero and it was my honor to know him.
Pat’s sister Jan Giguere Clarke says that for her family, 1983 was “a very bad year.” On August 31st, the family lost a beloved father, husband, and grandfather: retired Army Lt. Col. Alfred J. Giguere, Jr., who was given a military burial at Quantico National Cemetery. Fifty-five days later, the Gigueres also lost Pat: son, brother, young husband and expectant father —also given a military burial at Quantico. “Pathad been selected for promotion to Major in April 1983,” says Jan. Thus he was promoted posthumously, as reflected his grave marker (right).
Published May 29, 2015
Remembering John Patrick (Pat) Giguere:
U.S Marine Pilot
KIA in Grenada, October 25, 1983.
Part 2
by A. Jane Chambers
with information from Jan Giguere Clarke
Greater love hath no man than this,
that a man lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13. King James Bible
Pat Giguere died on October 25, 1983, in a heroic attempt to save the lives of his two comrades whose Cobra helicopter had been shot down by anti-aircraft during Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada. He did not die in vain. In a lengthy email to Pat’s family dated June 5, 2013, his commanding officer, Colonel Greg Baur, recalled the details of the battle in which Pat was killed and wrote: “His efforts saved Tim Howard’s life. Then Capt. Howard was able to finish a 30 year Marine career as a one armed Marine Colonel, limited duty intelligence officer.”
Beirut Memorial in Camp Lejeune Memorial Gardens, Jacksonville, NC. Photo and information here are from the Official Website of the city of Jacksonville, NC.
Pat Giguere’s name is chiseled in granite on row ten of the Beirut Memorial shown above, “a gift from the citizens of Onslow County to honor those men that lived among us and gave so much. A solemn tribute to 273 Marines who gave thelast full measure of devotion in Lebanon and Grenada” in 1983. Each October “a Remembrance Observance takes place” at the Memorial “to remember those who gave the greatest sacrifice for their country.”
Henry Jones as CNC freshman. 1972 TRIDENT, p. 105.
That Pat would risk his life to save his Marine comrades in danger was perhaps foreshadowed in an event that happened near the end of his senior year at CNC (1972), as recalled by his Chi Psi Omega fraternity brother Henry Jones, then a freshman, who wrote the following:
We were on our last day of a Chi Psi Omega Nags Head Memorial Day weekend. The weather had been great that Saturday and Sunday, but that Monday, the wind and surf had picked up.It was late in the day. We were getting ready to head back to Newport News when we heard cries for help. We looked out and saw three people getting pounded by the rough surf and starting to drift out to sea.
Pat Giguere as a CNC senior. 1972 TRIDENT, p. 72.
Three of us went in and helped the first two people that were in distress. The waves were pushing us back and knocking us down. It was a real effort to get to them, but we did help them to safety.
Seeing our group effort, Patty, however, headed off by himself for the third person, who was further out. When the waves hit him, they sprayed off him like water off the bow of a boat. He reached the man and brought him in by himself.
While I remember Patty as always smiling, always ready to use his big booming laugh, he was also always ready to help in an instant.
Friend Bob Hines, who spent much time with Pat during their years together at CNC, recalls how playful times showed the man Pat would be:
I played in pick up basketball games with him. He was kind of a big guy, but did he ever hustle! After we graduated in 1972, we sort of lost touch. When I learned that he went into the Marines and became an officer, again I was somewhat surprised. I did not know that Pat quite had that in him, but I guess I should not have been surprised. My initial encounter in basketball with Pat should have shown me that Pat could and would go after whatever goal he set before him and would work hard until completion of such goal.
Bob Hines as a senior. 1972 TRIDENT, p. 90.
Pat fulfilled his goals as a Marine, as a man, and as a friend—not only that last day of his life, but before then. Colonel Greg Baur, in his email previously quoted (6/5/13), stated that by 1979, Pat was a flight instructor “flying the big rotary engine fixed wing T-28 in Pensacola” and that in 1983, he “joined my first tactical squadron, HMM-261,” where he served “as the senior Cobra pilot to fly and advise our Commanding Officer on the Cobra’s proper employment.” On the day of his death, Pat was leading the two Cobras “sent to support an Army unit that had been pinned down on the single highway running up the West side of the island coming up from Pt. Salinas.”
Bob also wrote of Pat: “He was truly a down to earth and sincere guy. Nice guy. Good guy. He once told me that he would go around and visit kids in his neighborhood during the Christmas season while dressed as Santa. Had he not left us so early, he would have been as good a familyman down through the years as any man.” At the time of his death, Pat was married and his wife, Cindy, was pregnant with their first child, who would be born five months later and named Patrick.
Pat in the 1970 TRIDENT, p. 45.
The people of the small Island nation of Grenada have not forgotten Pat Giguere and the other American warriors who fought for them. The date of the Invasion of Grenada, October 23, is a national holiday, Grenada’s Thanksgiving Day. Point Salines International Airport became the Maurice Bishop International Airport in 2009 (see BACKGROUND in Part 1 of this article). Erected there is a monument (above L) honoring the Americans who liberated Grenada. Inscribed on the Grenada Memorial at nearby St. George’s University (above R) are the names of the 19 Americans killed. In 2013, family members of these fallen heroes were invited to a ceremony at the Memorial, with transportation fully paid for. Four Gigueres attended: Pat’s wife and son and his sister Ann and her husband, Bill Tucker. The first in the family to visit the scene of Pat’s death were his mother and his sister Jan, who went there in 1986.
Marilyn in the 1970 TRIDENT, p. 51.
American involvement in Grenada, as in Vietnam, was at the time and for many people continues to be a controversial issue. The debate over whether it was or was not justified has not ended. In remembering Pat, another friend from his CNC Class of 1972, Marilyn McCabe, wrote this: “It was Pat Giguere who convinced me that even if you did not support the US policy on Viet Nam, you could support the US men and women who fought there--both while they were deployed and especially when they returned. It changed my perspective permanently.”
Pat Giguere was an “Army Brat,” born at Fort Lee, in Hopewell, VA as the middle child and second son in a Catholic family with five children. He lived in several places in Virginia and for four years in France until his father retired, in 1963, when Pat was thirteen, and moved the family to Newport News, where Lt. Colonel Giguere worked at Fort Monroe. Pat attended Our Lady of Mount Carmel School and then Saint Vincent’s (later Peninsula Catholic), receiving his diploma in 1968. He attended CNC for four years, receiving his BS in Business in 1972. Both his father and his brother, Mike (the oldest sibling) were military men, so he apparently followed the family tradition by joining the Marine Corps shortly after graduation. When he was told to go to war, he did.
Published June 12, 2015
FEEDBACK
Patrick Giguere Article (above)
From Jan Giguere Clarke [Sister]:
Thank you SO much for your touching and eloquent 2 part tribute to Pat. We are so grateful to you for honoring him and for unlocking new doors to his college friends.
A true gentleman in every way. Proud to say he was a fraternity brother.
From St. Vincent’s/Peninsula Catholic friends:
T.C. Panecaldo
Pat and I were in the same graduating class in 1968 from Peninsula Catholic high school. Thank you for posting this and I have forwarded this to our class historian, Bruce Crocker, and he will get this forwarded to every one of our classmates. Thank you. A beautiful remembrance of Pat.
Deborah Gentry
I remember Pat from 11th grade at St Vincent's. I remember him well. He was a great guy!
Margaret Brown-Jones
Pat graduated with my brother Billy from St.Vincent's! I remember him even though I was a little girl.
I used to work with Pat. He was a cook and his brother Mike was asst manager of a small pancake house in Hidenwood. It was owned by Vic Zodda who also owned a restaurant in the very popular Holiday Inn. This was in the 60’s. Pat was shy but funny. He got along with everyone. The kids in that family were all great personalities. Years later I met his sister who was a nurse at Riverside, I believe.
A Tribute to Raoul Weinstein:
Teacher, Coach, Mentor
By Wade Williams
Memory is a good running mate.
It keeps an even pace and lightly carries self-satisfaction,
regrets, and hope as the years blend into each other
with the passing of time.
--Wade Williams
The young math instructor had no idea why he was being summoned to CNC Director Cunningham’s office prior to Christmas break of 1964. As he entered, he saw Jim Windsor, Student Personnel Officer, seated nearby. They told him that Christopher Newport was to have a track team beginning in the spring of 1965 and the coaching job was his if he wanted it. Without hesitation, the young instructor, Raoul Weinstein, accepted. He was to be CNC’s first athletic coach, and he was an excellent choice.
Math Instructor Weinstein. 1966 TRIDENT, p. 27.
He had been a Newport News citizen since the age of eight, when he moved with his family from Philadelphia. A precocious young boy, he had skipped the third grade, graduating from Newport News High School at sixteen. His parents owned and operated Auto Craft Upholstery, a Newport News landmark located at 25th Street and Buxton Avenue. Raoul and his siblings, Karen and Sabrinaconcentrated on their school activities. Despite his youth, Raoul was on the state’s record-setting mile relay team and was second in the 440 at the state meet his senior year. He continued running at the University of Richmond, setting a record in the 220. He then pursued and obtained his masters in mathematics at William and Mary before becoming a member of the faculty at Christopher Newport College.
A smiling Coach Weinstein, pleased with his athletes’ performance. 1966 TRIDENT, p. 84.
Track and Field was to be CNC’s first sport, and for good reasons. First, it was cost effective, requiring little capital outlay. Ferguson High School, across the street, would allow access to its track and hurdles. The College would supply the uniforms. Long’s Sporting Goods would provide the few implements needed, such as javelins. CNC’s maintenance man, Mike Cazares, would build the clothing racks in the boiler room of Newport Hall that served as the team’s locker room.
Second, the Peninsula was a hot bed of track and field talent, so CNCwould provide a pipe line for athletes that didn’t receive scholarships to Division One colleges. Third, since track and field is a sport that affords numerous opportunities for a wide variety of skill sets, with eighteen individual events, there would be events for people of all body types. Finally, a cost-effective sport, with many local venues for competition, would bring the student body together, establishing an identity for the College, and wouldhelp in recruiting new students.
The team that launched CNC’s inaugural sports season was long on enthusiasm but short on depth and experience. Nevertheless, CNC’s first victory was defeating Frederick Military Academy’s track team, a team that had several state champions on its squad. Coach Weinstein noted that the next day on campus, members of our team walked about “with their chests poked out as if they had won the Olympics.”
Coach Weinstein (right of the winning runner, Bob Deans) watching the other runners. 1966 TRIDENT, p. 84
Dual meet victories in those early years were to be few and far between, but at the end of the second year, the spring of 1966, CNC’s freshmen placed sixth out of fifteen teams at the Virginia State Collegiate Championships held in Lexington, a feat that still astonishes Coach Weinstein to this day. Lee Abrahamson placed second in both hurdles while Joe English (high jump), Joe Hutchko (javelin), and I (880 and mile relay)—plus the mile relay team—had top four finishes. On that day, five CNC trackrecords were set.
From those humble beginnings, track and field at CNC developed into a national, Division III power through the remainder of the century. Other fine coaches built on Weinstein’s foundation: Jim Hubbard, then Doug Dickinson, and finally Vince Brown, who took the team to national prominence, producing scores of All-Americans and national championships. When Brown retired, the new field house honored his legacy, but with his retirement alsowent the All-Americans and national titles—“Ashes to ashes; Dust to dust”—despite first class facilities.
Track man Wade Williams studying for one of Coach Weinstein’s math exams. 1966 TRIDENT, p. 10.
Raoul Weinstein was first and foremost a teacher. A wise mentor of mine once noted that “Coaching is teaching and teaching is coaching. If you find a good teacher who is willing to coach, you’ll have a good coach.”
As a math instructor, Raoul never taught from his chair, but was always moving about, at the blackboard modeling equations and solutions, or traversing about the room offering assistance. If there was a podium to lean on, he never used it that I recall.
Once class ended, he would sit behind his desk, arms behind his head, tilted back in his chair, and wouldchat with students who engaged him. He also kept regular office hours. If he wasn’t in class, he was in his office, probably tutoring or grading papers. When he gave a test or quiz, the graded work was returned the next class meeting.
In fair or foul weather, he was at the cinder track at Ferguson HighSchool, across from CNC, at four o’clock each and every weekday afternoon. Sometimes only a handful of athletes would show for practice, but they were given a full, challenging workout on that day by a coach who was also a snappy dresser: pointed-toed, shined loafers, creased slacks, oxford shirt and black car coat with wooden looped buttons. With his halted, measured words, his athleteswere put through their paces. He never raised his voice. Praise was plentiful, admonishments mild and few. We simply did not want to disappoint this man at practice or in competition.
Coach Weinstein the “snappy” dresser at a meet. 1966 TRIDENT, p. 84.
He also had a strong sense of integrity. When two of his star athletes found themselves in positions to pass or fail his math course, they refused his tutorial help and also refused to put forth the effort needed to pass, so they received failing grades. Both students were the highest scoring athletes on their respective teams. No one was more disappointed by the failings than Coach Weinstein, and he remains so to this day.
Five years ago, I discovered he was living in Lakeland, Florida. I had lost track of him once he left for the Virgin Islands to teach in the late sixties, never to return to CNC. On a trip I made to visit family in Lakeland, we met at his home and spent four hours catching up and reminiscing. Despite his 70 years, he still moved with the grace of a sprinter—lean, fit, bright-eyed, engaging. I was captivated by my old mentor and the remarkable life he has lived and continues to live: math professor, author of a calculus text book that is still being used, real estate developer who built his own home in the Virgin Islands, and currently a dance master on cruise ships with his wife, Nancy, and author of an autobiographical book Become a Man of Confi-Dance, subtitled Dance your way to self-esteem, happiness, romance and adventure.
Raoul Weinstein dressed as dance host in 2006. This photo and the next were supplied by Mr. Weinstein.
Raoul and wife, Nancy, dressed as dance host and hostess.
We stay in touch on a regular basis and he lives closer now, in Greenville, South Carolina. I hope to spend my twilight years, when I move to Clemson, SC, hiking and biking with my old mentor. I want to tell him that throughout my life as a teacher and a coach, he was never far from my thoughts and my heart. In my own coaching career, he was there with me for each and every accolade I received—for the top ten finishes at the NCAA championships, the All-Americans, the American and world record holders, the ACC and Southern Conference championships, the five Olympians, and the eleven state championships. And it all started in that boiler room that served as a locker room and that cinder track across the street. He tried to teach me humility, too…but it didn’t stick. Thanks, Coach. See you in May.
Writer’s Note: Special thanks to both Coach Weinstein and former CNC President Dr. James C. (Jim) Windsor for information they gave me in conversations I had with each during the 2011 Inaugural Reunion of the CNC First Decaders and during Picnic Reunions later of the CNC First Decaders.
Editor’s Note: Wade “Iron Man” Williams (left) in the 1968 TRIDENT, p. 61, and Coach Weinstein (right) in the 1966 TRIDENT, p. 27. The comment under the Coach’s picture was put there by someone on the yearbook staff. Was it perhaps the female editor? Like Jim Windsor, in his youth the coach was an object of admiration among some of CNC’s ladies.
Wade Williams was the first recipient of the Richard D. Bahr Memorial Athletic Award, given to the CNC athlete with the highest grade point average. Wade had an outstanding career in both teaching and coaching, starting at Ferguson H.S. (Newport News). Next he was head track coach and assistant athletic director at VMI (Lexington) for 11 years (1974-86), then head track coach at Clemson University (Clemson, SC) for 3 years. Afterwards he returned to teaching high school English and coaching high school track and football, serving at Warwick H.S. (Newport News) and then Western Branch H.S. (Chesapeake). He retired with 44 years of exemplary service in education and athletics at the collegiate and public school levels. He and his wife live in Portsmouth, VA.
Photo of Wade Williams in 2006 supplied by him.
Published March 27, 2015
PEOPLE IDENTIFIED: COMMENCEMENT 1965 PHOTOGRAPH
The 2 men standing on the left are JAMES C. (Jim) WINDSOR, then Student Personnel Officer(dark suit) and CNC Director (later President) H. WESTCOTT (Scotty) CUNNINGHAM(lighter suit).
The A.A. Degree Recipients are lined up in reverse alphabetical order. Some are identified here from RIGHT (aisle) to LEFT, while some are guessed at, based on last names then, and others are simply not visible.
First row (R-L):TOM WITTY, ELLEN WIRT, [next probably Charles E. Watkins, Jr.], GAYLE STANLEY (now Walters), [next probably Fred Smallwood, now deceased], and PAT SHAUGHNESSY (now Morrell).
Second row (R-L):GWEN SEIDLER (now Stevens), JENNIFER RILEY (now Watson), JEAN REGONE (now Henry), [then probablyDAVID B. RABINOWITZ], [next probably ALEXANDER PHILLIPS, now deceased], and RAY PEPE (wearing glasses).
