HELLO ’68! I hope your summer adventures went as planned and that a good number of you will be joining me in Colorado for our 55-year reunion. The great thing about ’68 reunions is that embellished tales of yore can be told with reckless abandon and no one dares to challenge their authenticity. (Scribe Note: Honor Code violations will be expunged for really good misremembered stories.)

“Dave and Jeanne Allen in front of their 1930 Waco ASO biplane at their Colorado home airpark for a July 2023 ‘Fly-In’ weekend.”

‘68ER GRABS THE GOLD AND NAMED GRAND CHAMPION AND BEST-IN-SHOW: While the majority of our gang is now more familiar with pickle ball and rocking chairs than the great iron birds we once flew, one ’68 aviator has taken the spirit of flight to a whole new level. Our very own Dave Allen’s 1947 PA-11 Cub Special was crowned Grand Champion and Best-In-Show at the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture Oshkosh Air Show (the largest air show in the world). For his efforts, Dave was awarded a Gold Lindy (named for Charles Lindberg) for a classic aircraft. According to Wikipedia: “The EAA estimated the attendance in 2022 at 650,000 people. In 2018, 2,714 international visitors registered from 87 nations. There were approximately 10,000 aircraft, 2,979 show planes, and 976 media representatives on-site from six continents, along with 867 commercial exhibitors. During the gathering in July, the Wittman Regional Airport’s control tower is the busiest in the world.” A hearty congratulations to Dave for his contributions to the Aviation Community.

"Dave Kozak Flexes Muscles and Age"

‘68ER GETS GUINNESS RECOGNITON AS OLDEST MALE COMPETITIVE NINJA: In an email from Dave Kozak, he writes: “A bit of news from the ’Ageless Ninja’. I continue to train and compete in this great sport of Ninja Warrior. Last year (2022) I was invited back to the TV show "American Ninja Warrior" to compete on my 75th birthday. It did not go well but I had loads of fun. Maybe I can do better at 80 if I'm invited back.
          I was recently notified by the Guinness Book of World Records that I am the oldest competitive ninja (male) and will be included as such in their next edition this fall. The oldest competitive female ninja is a friend of mine and will also be included. She's just a kid of 70. This info is OK for our "newsletter" purposes but not for worldwide social media dissemination.
          I have enjoyed the sport tremendously for many reasons. I am particularly excited about the effect it has on kids. Not only do they develop physical skills but show dramatic growth socially, emotionally, psychologically.... There are four ninja gyms in the suburbs around Buffalo, but none in the city...yet. I am one year into a project to bring this sport into underserved neighborhoods in the inner city. I started a New York state non-profit corporation called Fit for Life Ninja Inc. and have just received 501(c)(3) status from the IRS! Doing business as the Buffalo Ninja Academy, we'll provide a low-cost opportunity for a culturally and economically diverse population. For more information, our somewhat bare-boned website is buffaloninjaacademy.com. Since this is a non-profit enterprise, all our revenue will be sourced from grants, donations, and fund-raising. If anyone is interested in more information, they may contact me directly - dvkozak@yahoo.com. Thanks, Dave and . . . KYAH!!

“Your Reunion Committee. L-R: Gene Rose, Dale Oderman, Gary Hoffman (Chairman), Mark Torreano, Bill Wood, Garry Dudley, Vince Rusinak, Bill Crimmel, Doug Wilson, Ben Stevens, and Gary Vasek. Not Pictured; Carl Janssen (photographer), Bill Maywhort, Art Miller, and Alan Price (online attendees)”

REUNION COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES SCHEDULE: For specific details on the schedule of events for the reunion, please go to our Class website and click on 55th Reunion. One big change is that the football game has been moved from Saturday afternoon to Friday night.

THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS: We were saddened by loss of two of our classmates. LeRoy Glenn Barco and Ray Martin Cole.
          LeRoy Barco died on 17 July 2021 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was a member of 5th Squadron. The AOG was not informed about his death until June 2023.
          Marty Cole passed away while in hospice care for Parkinson’s Disease on 5 July 2023 in Scottsdale, Arizona, with his wife, Claudia by his side, He served as an Air Force officer, graduated from pilot training with the Class of 70-01 from Reese AFB, and retired in the rank of lieutenant colonel. His civilian employment was spent as a pilot with Southwest Airlines. He was a good and faithful friend and he will be missed.
          In addition to classmate deaths, please pray for Bob Denny in the loss of his wife, Colleen, on 23 April, the loss of Basil Fossum’s wife, Chris, on 7 July and the loss of George Hoffman’s wife, Chiyoko, on 23 July. There are also prayers needed for Mike Ellison and Bill Maywhort, who are both serving as healthcare givers for their spouses.

THAT'S A WRAP: Mind the flak; keep ‘em flying, and keep those cards, letters, e-mails, and photos coming in to Pat Russell and me. Ciao for now. Tim