WHO WE ARE!!
from
Dave Cooper’s “Reflections”
52.5th Reunion Memorial Service
Updated to 7 June 2014
Thanks to Paul Behrends!!
Updated to 4 January 2020
Thanks to Bill Peerenboom
Updated 22 January 2021
Thanks to Bart Campbell
Updated to 28 February 2021
Thanks to David Mitchell
Updated to 22 June 2023
Why we are the Great Class of 1957!
o Class had 848 graduates of which 568 went to USN, 206 to USAF, 62 to USMC, 2 to foreign Navies (Peru and Philippine) and 10 to "civilian corps" with medical disqualifications.
o 312 non-graduates
o Of those 836 graduates that went into the Navy, Air Force, and Marines:
- 48 Killed/died in service
- 265 Resigned before retirement eligible
- 523 Honorably retired from service
o 31 Flag and General Officers (24 USN, 1 USMC, 5 USAF, 1 Peruvian) including three 4-star, six 3 star, sixteen 2 star and five 1 star ranks
o 338 Graduates living as of 30 November 2022
The Class of 1957 is most famous for the accomplishments of its members in their lifetimes. Here are just some of the examples:
With respect to the Naval Academy
o 1 USNA Superintendent - Ron Marryott
o 1 Commandant of Midshipmen – Bud Edney
o 1 USNAAA/USNAF CEO & President – Ron Marryott
o 1 USNA Varsity Athletic Coach – Dave Smalley
o 5 Distinguished Graduates – Ron Marryott, Bruce DeMars, Bud Edney, Brad Parkinson, and Dan Cooper
o 3 Honor Scholarships
- Class of 1957 Scholar Athlete Scholarship
- RADM Ronald F. Marryott ’57 Scholarship
- Captain David S. Cooper ’57 Scholarship
In other areas:
o An astronaut who walked on the moon – Charlie Duke - Also named “Texan of the Year 2020”
o A hydronaut who descended to the very depths of the oceans - Bob Nevin
o Winner of the Queen Elizabeth Engineering Prize 2019 - Brad Parkinson
o 3 appointees to National Sub-Cabinet level posts – Dick Furiga, Joe Ksycewski, and Dan Cooper
o 1 Senior National Football League Referee - Bob McElwee (Officiated at three Super Bowls!!)
o Key designer of the GPS Navigational system and recipient of Charles Stark Draper award – Brad Parkinson - namesake of USNA Aerospace Engineering Department’s “Parkinson SAT”, designed by Midshipmen
o Recipient of prestigious Harmon International Aviation Trophy – Jerry Gentry
o Defense Science Board Member – Ed Biggers
o Most importantly - Inspired over 40 sons AND daughters to attend USNA. Now grandchildren are attending in numbers.
We are also famous for our generosity in what we have given back to the Academy. 1957 has given the below gifts to USNA at a total value of almost $4M
o Tree on Chapel Walk
o Stadium Gate (Gold Side)
o Alumni Hall scoreboard
o Visitors Center Theater
o Chair in Naval Heritage
o Sponsorship of 27th and 22nd Companies since 1991
o Purchase of over 400 memorial chairs in the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
And Most Significantly (as our 50th Anniversary Gift):
o The Class of 1957 Chair in Naval Heritage
o The Class of 1957 Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship
None of this could have been possible without the continued support of too many classmates to mention.
o There are three of our class leaders that I do feel deserve recognition.
- Fritz Warren 28 years Pres during our “active duty years” - died Fall of 2019
- Tom Sims 21 years Treasurer – died Spring of 2011
- Dick Scales 20 years Secretary – died Winter of 2005
- Dave Cooper many years as Class President and Co-Organizer of Reunions - died Spring of 2023