News From Fort Schuyler

October 23, 2001 - Volume 5, No. 28

MORE ON THE ADMIRALTY - This recent headline in an Annapolis newspaper caught the attention of BRIAN SMITH, Class of 1986. "Ryan Leaving - Academy Superintendent to Become President of N.Y. Maritime College." Brian comments that: "I've heard lots of good things about Admiral Ryan during his tenure at USNA. This seems like a great find for Maritime." According to the article in 'The Capital,' JOHN R. RYAN, a three-star admiral, who is slated to arrive at Fort Schuyler in June 2002, ".... will oversee plans to increase enrollment to about 900 and add programs in other marine-related fields. His salary will increase to $155,000 per year. Adm. Ryan's tenure at the Naval Academy was marked by an unprecedented level of popularity with faculty and staff for easing tensions between the military and civilian cultures."

The complete newspaper article is at http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/live/10_18-52/TOP The official USNA profile for Admiral Ryan is at http://www.usna.edu/PAO/bio-ryan.html The SUNY announcement of the appointment can be found at http://www.suny.edu Click on 'SUNY News Headlines' and go to October 18.

Prior to Admiral Ryan's arrival, another admiral has been named to serve as Interim President commencing next month, Vice Admiral JOHN W. CRAINE, Jr. USN (Ret). In a memo to Maritime College faculty and staff, the University Chancellor, ROBERT L. KING, noted that Admiral Craine, former Chief of Naval Education and Training, "... is no stranger to the Maritime College, having been responsible for the oversight of all Naval ROTC Programs and as a candidate in the Maritime presidential search." According to the memo, "Craine will also assist me and senior officers of the University on a number of special projects, including enhancing our international activities and advising us on education, training and distance learning issues."

King writes that Adm Craine's appointment will be effective 01 November, "This will enable a smooth transition this fall from Admiral DAVID BROWN's term. Prior to the start of his sabbatical in January, I am asking Admiral Brown to take on a special assignment with the State Emergency Management Office and State University to help with World Trade Center recovery operations. Given the unique role and educational programs of the Maritime College, I believe that the College can provide key support as New York City recovers and begins to rebuild from the terrible tragedy of September 11th. I have been asked to make available a senior executive with logistical skills and experience and I was pleased to name Admiral Brown to take on this very special task." The SUNY announcement of these actions can be found at http://www.suny.edu Click on 'SUNY News Headlines' and go to October 17.

MOUNT LOCKWOOD - NOAA recently announced that U.S. Board on Geographic Names has approved the naming of an underwater mountain in honor of the late MILLINGTON LOCKWOOD, Class of 1966, who died of cancer in July 1999. (See NFFS:3:35 and 4:18) Lockwood Seamont is located in the Pacific Ocean eighty nautical miles NW of Marcus Island, close to the deepest waters in the Pacific near the Mariana Trench. According to NOAA, Millington was "...a moving force in the field of international cooperation and U.S. national programs dealing with the study of the seafloor. He was instrumental in coordinating the work of various U.S. government organizations for the fulfillment of the U.S. Defense Hydrographic Iniative and other cooperative programs for the study of seafloor topography." A letter to Millington's widow, Susan, concluded: "His name will rest on generations of nautical charts, bathymetric maps, and seafloor maps reminding of all of his dedication and drive to promote the study of bathymetry." For more information go to www.google.com and type in "Lockwood Seamount" [Thanks to LCDR GERD GLANG, Class of 1984, for bringing this information to the attention of NFFS.]

HAVING A GRAND OLD PARTY - Although many members of his graduating class are long retired, one is taking on new responsibilities. According to the Beaufort Gazette, BOB HOLZMACHER, Class of 1947, is the newly elected chairman of the Beaufort Country Republican Party. The article notes that Bob is "a retired engineer [who] lives on Dataw Island with his wife Ardith. They moved to Beaufort eight years ago from Long Island, New York. A lifelong Republican, Holzmacher said he first voted for Thomas Dewey in the 1948 Presidential election."

JACK HAYES, who brought this article to the attention of NFFS with an e-mail headlined "Our Right-Wing Wacko Makes Good, " explains that "The great Class of '47 had produced some great people - CEO's, inventors, teachers, entrepreneurs, doctors, lawyers, financiers, recognized experts in many fields - but none with more dedication and fortitude than Bob Holzmacher. Bob has been laboring in the political vineyards in South Carolina for many years..... The vitriolic rhetoric that flowed from some of the more liberal of our classmates during the recent presidential election led me to write the headline to this introduction in hopes that they may read further." The full Beaufort Gazette article may be found at www.beaufortgazette.com Go to "Gazette Search" check the "archives" box and use the search option "Holzmacher"

FURTHER DOMER DERIVATION - Add this to the theories about the source and meaning of the post-60's "Domer" nickname for SUNY Maritime. CHRIS KESSLER, Class of 1970, writes: "I have a very definite recollection of the origin of the term 'Domer.' It sprang up in the late 60's during my years as a cadet from an offhand comment during a conversation with some of my classmates. They were gathered around an architect's model of a proposed new marina for the sailing team that was being displayed on campus. The model was encased in glass and quite detailed. Somebody remarked about its amazing likeness to the college. Another in the group referring to the glass case covering the model, agreed and added, "Yeah, dome and all." The dome remark was intended as a not-so-subtle jibe at the restricted cadet lifestyle and the isolation many of us felt from the political and social changes going on at that time. Outside Fort Schuyler, college students were protesting the war and civil rights. Many of us felt apart from our generation (sealed in a dome) and had mixed feelings about our day-to-day regimented life during an era of teach-ins, love-ins, and a general challenge to authority. With tongue firmly planted in cheek, we started to call each other 'Domers.' It started as an inside joke among a few classmates, but quickly spread to the entire cadet corps. Eventually it morphed into 'Maridome' - a kind of play on words of the Astrodome, which had recently opened for business. We amused each other by making up wild stories that the administration had secret plans to encase the college in a dome just like the one in the architect's model and permanently seal in the cadets and their rebellious spirit." [Other theories about the term Domer, summarized by NFFS in 1998, can be found by clicking on "What is a Domer" at www.fsmaa.org ]