As best as I can remember, the following sequence of events lead to its completion and distribution:

1. Apparently, our 50th Reunion Yearbook consisted of several separate digitized sections which the publisher assembled into the printed version that was distributed at the reunion in April 2007. No complete digitized version of the yearbook was ever developed at that time. As the editor, Max Kovel possessed a set of these separate sections on a flash drive and had sent copies to the AOG and USMA Library with the expectation that they would develop these materials into a complete coherent digitized version of the published yearbook.

2. At our 60th Reunion in April 2017 Max mentioned to me that he was discouraged that the AOG and the USMA Library had not taken any steps to reassemble these materials into a viable digitized yearbook. I told Max to send me a copy of the flash drive along with any other pertinent 50thReunion materials, and that I would assist him in digitizing the yearbook ourselves. A few weeks later, Max sent me a copy of the flash drive. In addition to the yearbook sections, the flash drive also contained other materials related to our 50th Reunion activities.

3. After Max passed away unexpectedly in December 2019, I realized that I may be the only classmate with a flash drive that contains the several unassembled digitized sections of the yearbook used in the publication of the original yearbook. Furthermore, based on my agreement with Max, I took it as my personal responsibility to complete the digitization of the yearbook, lest it be forgotten and lost due to indifference and the ravages of time.

4. As you will recall, at our 65th Reunion in April, 2022, I passed out copies of my flash drive to you and other members of our Class Executive Board and discussed with you a “Path Forward” to fully digitize the yearbook and other materials related to our 50th Reunion. Following this coordination, my computer-savvy Son-in-Law, John C. Loudon, and I have been able to collect, reassemble, consolidate and digitize (where necessary), all available materials related to our 50th Reunion. Missing pages were photographed and digitized from my printed yearbook and added to the brew. We now have a completely digitized version of our 50th Reunion Yearbook which is essentially an exact copy of the roughly 400 page yearbook that was distributed to our 50th Reunion attendees and others.

5. In addition to the yearbook itself, we have been able to use other resources and flash drive information to collect and digitize pertinent 50th Reunion materials into additional folders related to the activities, highlights and photographs celebrated during the reunion festivities.

6. We owe a great deal of gratitude to our long time Class Scribe and the 50th Reunion Yearbook Editor, Max Kovel (arguably his Crowning Achievement), and up to half of our classmates who directly contributed to the successful literary and financial publication of this historic document.

7. The 50th Reunion is probably the most important and significant reunion of most West Point Classes. Our 50th Reunion Yearbook completes an important chapter in our Class history. This digitized version will also permit all classmates, their spouses and our descendant’s full access to its contents now and far into the future. In addition, this digitized version in the archives of the AOG and the USMA Library will permit redundancy and availability for full public access, distribution and for posterity.

8. Finally, our Class of 1957 50th Reunion Yearbook is especially poignant since it provided, and still provides, all members of our class the opportunity to reflect on their past military and/or civilian careers, including our current continuing commitments to the core values of our ”Duty, Honor, Country” motto, in pursuit of our common eternal goals as espoused in our beloved Alma Mater: “May It Be Said, WELL DONE”.

Grip Hands,

Lou Circeo