Alumni Weekend Part 2 Nearly 50 Attend Annual Banquet, Awards, Sunday Breakfast
Alums gathered in The Party Place adjacent to the widely-acclaimed Alumni Club for the 2025 Annual Banquet and awards ceremony. President DeWitt 2001 asked Past President Seibold ’53 to present the awards.
Alumnus of the Year 2024 Brian Morabito.1990. Brian was unable to attend the 2024 Annual Meeting. Seibold and DeWitt praised his long service to our Association. His citation:
Alumnus Of The Year 2024, Brian Morabito 1990
In recognition of his many years’ service to Howe Military School and this Association, the Howe Military School Alumni Association® hereby awards Brian Morabito 1990 Alumnus Of The Year 2024 in grateful recognition of his service as an Alumnus Trustee of The Howe School™ and as Secretary and Director of this Association.
Dan Siegel accepted David Sheppard’s 2025 Alumnus of the Year Award. David was unable to attend due to bereavement. His citation:
Alumnus Of The Year 2025, David R. Sheppard ’70
In recognition of his many years’ service to this Association as Class Agent for the Classes of ’69 and ’70, and for his efforts to “keep the crew together”. The Howe Military School Alumni Association® hereby awards David R. Sheppard ’70 Alumnus Of The Year 2025 in grateful recognition of his diligent work to keep those classes active in this Association.
Wally Jarvis accepted Trace Devanny’s Distinguished Alumnus Award. Trace’s citation:
Distinguished Alumnus, Earl L. “Trace” Devanny III ’70
The Howe Military School Alumni Association® hereby names Earl L. “Trace” Devanny III ’70 Distinguished Alumnus 2025
Trace Devanny grew up in a military family as the son of COL Earl H. Devanny “Skip”, a former Howe Commandant, but Trace was not a member of our nation’s military. After leaving Howe Military School™, Trace Devanny enrolled in University of the South, graduating in 1974. He then worked at IBM (Big Blue). the beginning of a distinguished career in health information technology. His notable civilian career is a great credit to Howe Military School™ and this Association.
Dean Theresa Hinkle-Jacobs was named Honorary Alumna. Her citation:
Honorary Alumna, Dean Theresa Hinkle-Jacobs 2025
Dean of Academic Affairs 2018-2019
During her tenure, the academic performance on Indiana state-required tests improved dramatically: increasing 43% in English and 21% in math. She had directed intense mandatory remediation sessions for five weeks prior to the tests. The Howe Military School Alumni Association® hereby names Dean Theresa Hinkle-Jacobs an Honorary Alumna.
Alice Perkins Snyder accepted two Honorary Alumna awards, one for her mother and one for herself. Here are the citations:
Honorary Alumna, Judith Merritt Perkins
daughter of MAJ James Merritt 1917 and sister of COL Thomas Merritt ’53, grew up on the Howe campus. A loyal daughter of Howe, it was as much a part of her life as of any cadet alumnus. The Howe Military School Alumni Association® hereby names Judith Merritt Perkins an Honorary Alumna.
Honorary Alumna, Alice Perkins Snyder, granddaughter of MAJ James Merritt 1917 and niece of COL Thomas Merritt ’53, she has been active in supporting this Association. In grateful appreciation of her help, the Howe Military School Alumni Association® hereby names Alice Perkins Snyder an Honorary Alumna.
Our Association has received unique ind indispensable help from an alumnus and a member of the Organ Historical Society in documenting the history of the Kimball organ in St. James Chapel.
They were awarded Special Recognition. Here are their citations:
Special Recognition: John R. Durgan ’63 As a cadet, Mr. Durgan took organ lessons for four years on the Kimball Organ in St. James. His lifetime experience as an organist has provided invaluable information and perspective about this instrument to the History section of our website.
Special Recognition: James R. Stettner, Puget Sound Organs, editor of the Organ Historical Society database. Mr. Stettner provided extensive information about Kimball tubular pneumatic organs such as the one in St. James, which has been incorporated into our website.
Sunday morning, alums gathered for a farewell breakfast at the Howe Restaurant, which had catered our banquet Saturday evening. Strolling photographer Tim Gasho ’80 captured these Sunday images:
Then we remember from the Alumni Club the sales tables and Greg and Mike working at the greeting table:
Just before Alumni Weekend 2019 there was a bad windstorm that destroyed many old trees on the campus, opening some new views like this one of St. James Chapel showing the 1909 sanctuary and 1955 sacristy/chaplain’s office additions. Compare this Mike Dewitt pic to J. R. Manning’s pic here.
Finally, after taking a last look at the old campus, we turn off Route 9 and go west on 120 a few hundred feet and there is the cupola of old Lima High School sitting on the drive in front of the Howe Firehouse.
You can see this in its original location sticking above the trees here.
Thanks for reading this. Thanks to Jean Miller, Mike DeWitt, Tim Gasho, and Craig Buskirk for the photos and identifications. Fred Seibold wrote the text. Fides et Honor.
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