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Most Recent News

GMS 2025 Runion

Submitted by Mike Ruth on Thu, 07/17/2025 - 15:28
 

We have a number of our classmates already registered. But we usually get most of the registrations back in late August and September. We will begin posting the names of those who have signed up on our website starting in September. We will post them by class. We will also be giving away a special gift during the weekend to the class that has the most members back.

Leadership Scholarship Question and Response

Submitted by Mike Ruth on Mon, 11/04/2024 - 13:17
 

Bill Deck, Class of 1964, on Nov 2nd posted on the GMSAA Facebook Group the following important question. I promised him a response from Perry and myself..

“It is with mixed emotions that I put down my thoughts. As my wife likes to remind me, we are much like the Shakers with no one coming in behind us to carry on. There has always been a push to leave a lasting legacy. Starting with the GMS leadership courses and then moving to the GMS scholarships. At the time, I was not in favor of the change of course, but now I believe we made the right choice to switch to the scholarships.

I am reminded of the Dylan Thomas poem “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night.” With the last reunion and dissolution of the association coming up next year, I’m afraid we are going gently into the night. Unless the board makes some hard decisions in the next year, many of us will outlive our legacy. My question for the board is do we want to provide high dollar scholarships that will die out in 10 to 15 years or do we want to base our financial aid to reflect what will allow the fund to continue for generations to come. Might I suggest that 75% of the earnings of the fund be made available each year for scholarships and 25% be retained by the fund to maintain the viability of the fund.
As we “rage against the dying of the light” there is one scant year to get things right.

—Bill Deck”

Bill,
Thank you for your comments regarding the Leadership Scholarship. Rest assured that we are quite aware of the Scholarship’s overall financial position to include anticipated disbursements. We have an integrated model that includes expected portfolio returns which considers interest and dividends as well price appreciation, management fees, and inflationary adjustments to the awards. The Leadership Scholarship Fund will receive the residual from the Museum Fund and a portion of the residual from the Life Membership Fund (probably a total of about $125,000). The current scholarship amounts will be adjusted to an appropriate level by reducing the annual amount or the number of years awarded (or a combination of the two). From the outset, we knew that the awards would have to be flexible. The goal has always been to make the Scholarship fully funded. The Scholarship agreement we have with the GGV Community Foundation includes a Scholarship Committee, the composition of which can carry on in perpetuity, that is charged with ensuring that the considerations and requirements for evaluating student applications are followed. This Committee has the authority to adjust the scholarship disbursements should additional adjustments be needed after we are all gone.

With respect, Mike Ruth and Perry Woodside

PS: The Association will not end next year. It is scheduled to cease operation by Dec. 2026.

Message from the President

Submitted by Mike Ruth on Wed, 10/23/2024 - 19:16
 

To all GMS Cadets, Family and Friends:

On behalf of the GMSAA Board I would like to say THANK YOU!  to all who celebrated with us this weekend. I believe we had 98 people register early for the Friday night get together. While there were 14 no shows, there were about the same number who registered upon arrival to campus. We had 104 people at the dinner. While there wasn’t much dancing as we hoped, there were plenty of conversations and reconnection.

We also raised $6100 for the Leadership Scholarship, with a number of people pledging to contribute once they got home. 

If you want to contribute to the Leadership Scholarship please access the GMSAA website, or send a check made out to GMSAA.  Send to GMSAA, PO Box 922, Lewisburg, WV 24901, Attn: Mary Thompson. In the memo area of the check indicate the Leadership Scholarship.

What follows are not the minutes of the meetings but a summary. The important items of business this weekend were the signing of the agreement transferring the GMSAA Collection to WVSOM, discussions around the dissolution of the Association and the final official reunion. 

On Friday morning, after years of long and sometimes difficult discussions, the Board voted to bring the business of GMSAA to its end by Dec 31, 2026. The motion to hold the final GMSAA Reunion in October 2025 was also voted on. Both motions to close the association and hold the final GMSAA Reunion were passed unanimously. 

Friday afternoon the final documents were signed by the WVSOM Foundation, the WVSOM Board of Directors, the Greenbrier Historical Society and GMSAA to transfer the GMSAA Collection to WVSOM. After our board meeting, Governor Justice was on campus to sign a bill providing $13 million for WVSOM deferred maintenance. During this ceremony he spoke in depth about his time at GMS.

Finally, during the general meeting on Saturday a motion was made to keep the board membership as it is with its current 9 members until the Association closes. The motion passed unanimously.

Plans are already underway for the October 2025 reunion. Please note that after the October 2025 event, WVSOM has agreed to help facilitate informal reunions as long as we want to hold them. There will be a committee set up to assist in the transition to the informal get togethers.

One more thing before closing, I learned that the Greenbrier Jeep Rally will move to the 4th weekend in October thereby freeing up hotel rooms and parking lots!

Thank you to those who attended the board and general meetings, plus all your contributions throughout the last year. I appreciate your input and guidance. More information will be made available as we proceed.

See you October 17-19, 2025.

With respect,

Mike Ruth, President GMSAA
Class of 1969

Change is Inevitable

Submitted by Mike Ruth on Thu, 08/08/2024 - 14:49
 

This letter was composed in June for the upcoming version of the Alumni Record, which should be in your mailbox early next week. I am posting this now because of certain emails that have been floating around as of late. This is my opinion, and mine only as to where the Association should head.

June, 2024
To all GMS Cadets, Family, and Friends,

Change: Make (someone or something) different; alter or modify.- Oxford Dictionary-

Change doesn’t come easy and it’s certainly inescapable. Some of you are aware that after the New Year, I was diagnosed with prostrate cancer. With the help of a number of men including GMS alumni, I am now working through the biggest change in my life. The reason I tell you this is not for sympathy, but to say change happens and sometimes it is harsh with little time to prepare for it.

This letter is about change.

I feel it is time for the Greenbrier Military School Alumni Association to come to an end. Not our reunions, but the business side of our Association. I believe it is our duty to determine an appropriate timeframe for our Association’s termination. I would like to be clear, the Association and the reunions are separate matters.

As the Association goes, there is already a dissolution plan in place. It was written into our charter and amended a number of years ago by the Board of Directors. It was felt then, as I feel now, that we must methodically go through the legal and emotional process of dissolving GMSAA. This isn’t going to happen over night and it wont be simple. For the sake of continuity, I am recommending the people who have been working on these documents remain involved.

Why should the Association close? After discussing our situation with many alumni, it basically comes down to participation and money. The number of dues paying members are declining and our expenses aren’t being covered by our dues revenue. There is a real financial cost in keeping the association running, including paid and unpaid personnel, not related to reunion expenses.

Some of you would like to see the Association continue. Let me ask, continue until when? We don’t need the Association to see our classmates and friends. WVSOM has guaranteed we will be welcome on campus into perpetuity. We can continue holding reunions as long as anyone cares to go. The difference is GMSAA won’t be coordinating them. That responsibility will fall on those who want to get together, and WVSOM has people in place to help.

In my opinion our true legacy are the scholarships we award every year and the GMS Museum. We already have documents in place that will ensure these GMS legacies well into the future. Closing up shop while we are still active will save the Association in a multitude of ways, and quite frankly, it’s the proper thing to do.

As for the last “Official” GMSAA Reunion, let me suggest October 2025. Let’s honor those cadets from earlier years before they can no longer travel to Lewisburg in the fall. Let’s do this right with dignity and integrity and have this Final Reunion a monumental shindig while as many of us are able to attend.

Last year Lee Martin said it best with the following quote: “T’was Longfellow who said… ‘Great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of ending.’ ”

The above are my thoughts as President of the Association. It is my belief the board needs to move towards the closure of GMSAA sooner rather than later. I look forward to any and all comments and suggestions you may have.

With all Respect,

Mike Ruth ‘69
President
GMSAA

gms.mike.ruth@gmail.com

2024 GMSAA Reunion: The Thought Process Behind the New Schedule

Submitted by Matt Winans on Tue, 06/25/2024 - 17:06
 

From the Reunion Committee: After the new year the board organized a Reunion Committee to research what were the best options going forward. The Board members making up this committee were: Michael Crews (Association VP), Denton Staley (Association Sec), Steve Downer and Bear Baker.

On April 8, after discussion of their recommendations, it was unanimously agreed that the schedule now on the website be adopted for this upcoming 2024 GMSAA Reunion. If you have done so, please refer to the Reunion Schedule.

The rationale for the new reunion schedule is as follows. Concern was expressed at the elimination of the Saturday evening activities. Financial reports have shown that Saturday events have been our major expense in the past and is where we have the best opportunity to reduce costs. This proposal eliminates the need for the Student Center and another catered dinner. This also saves us the cost of hiring a group of musicians from outside the area, a cost that burdens the association’s members.

Attendance records show that the numbers have been declining at the Saturday Night Dinner Dance activity as expenses climb. It became obvious that this was the best place to cut expenses and still offer dancing at the Sharp center. To continue the Saturday evening activities and not dip into operating funds would require an increase in prices. This increase possibly could further lower the numbers willing to participate.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

The GMSAA Board

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Most Recent Cadet Obituaries

Robert Eugene Hibbitts

1956
 


April 3, 1936 - August 26, 2025

Robert Eugene (Bob) Hibbitts of Hickory passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on Tuesday, August 26, 2025. Born on April 3, 1936, in Clintwood, VA, he was the son of the late Logan Edward Hibbitts and Georgia Wright Hibbitts. In addition to his parents, he was also predeceased by his beloved wife of 56 years, Joan Grogan Hibbitts, and brothers Edward Harold Hibbitts, Sr., and Harry Lee Hibbitts.

Mr. Hibbitts is survived by his wife, Patricia Mullins Hibbitts; daughter, Katheryn Hibbitts Powers (John) of Greenville, SC; and son, Mark B. Hibbitts of Moravian Falls, NC. Also surviving are grandchildren, Nathaniel S. Powers, Ben W. Powers, and Emily E. Powers of Greenville, SC, and Daniel Logan Hibbitts of Conover, NC, and Jessica Hibbitts Woodie (Brock) of Hickory. He is also survived by great-granddaughters, Amelia Grace Scovern and Rylann Woodie; and great-grandson, Lawson Woodie. Several nieces and nephews also survive him. His constant companion was a devoted canine friend, Benji.

Mr. Hibbitts was a graduate of Clintwood, VA, public schools and attended Greenbrier Military School and the University of Virginia Wise. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army. Mr. Hibbitts joined First Security Company and worked there for thirty years before retiring as President. Hibbitts joined the staff of U.S. Senator Lauch Faircloth for five years as Regional Director in Hickory, serving western North Carolina. He then was employed with the brokerage firm Marsh McLennan as a Vice-President of Risk Management, assisting the one hundred counties of North Carolina.

Mr. Hibbitts was a longtime member of Viewmont Baptist Church, having served as a Deacon and in many other leadership positions. Hibbitts served several years as a Trustee of the Catawba Valley Medical Center. He was a Past President of the Longview Lions Club and a member of the Hickory American Legion Post #544 and its Honor Guard. He also served on the Lenoir-Rhyne University Board of Visitors.

Bob Hibbitts was elected to the Catawba County Board of Commissioners in 1980. During his twenty-year tenure, Hibbitts held many positions of leadership on the national, state, and local levels, including serving as Chairman of the Catawba County Board for ten years. Mr. Hibbitts was the recipient of the North Carolina Order of the Long Leaf Pine award.

A celebration of the life of Robert E. Hibbitts will be held at Viewmont Baptist Church in Hickory on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at 3 p.m. The family will receive friends at the church between 1:30 and 3 p.m. prior to the service. A reception will immediately follow at the church. Graveside services and interment will be held at Phipps Memorial Cemetery in Clintwood, VA, at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Viewmont Baptist Church.

William R. Satterfield, Jr.

1962
 

William Riley Satterfield Jr. passed away peacefully on August 21, 2025, at the Peyton Hospice House, surrounded by his loving wife and two daughters.

He was preceded in death by his parents William Riley Satterfield Sr. and Mary Smith Satterfield, and brother who passed shortly after birth.

Born on May 4, 1944, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Bill moved with his family to Lewisburg, West Virginia, at the age of two. He began his education at Lewisburg Elementary School before enrolling at Greenbrier Military School, where he completed his high school education. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Bill began his career with the insurance company Chubb & Son in New York City, where he worked until he was called to serve his country in the United States Army. He was stationed in Fulda, Germany, until 1967, when he returned to Lewisburg following the death of his father. At that time, he took over the family business, Greenbrier Insurance Agency, which he successfully owned and managed for 42 years.

His leadership in the insurance industry was evident early on. He was an organizer of the Young Agents of West Virginia and later elected President of the Independent Insurance Agents of West Virginia in 1982. Around 1983, he was named “Insurer of the Year” in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field. He also proudly served as West Virginia’s representative to the State National Board of the Independent Insurance Agents of America (IIAA), advocating for agents at both the state and national levels. In addition to his work in insurance, Bill also served on the Board of Directors of First National Bank, Daywood foundation, and Davis Stuart. He was a tireless member of the rotary foundation and selected as a Paul Harris Fellow. He was also a generous giver to the community volunteering countless hours and giving to multiple organizations.

Bill was raised in Old Stone Presbyterian Church where he became a faithful member. He was a youth leader, adult Sunday school teacher, Deacon, Elder, and Elder Emeritus. He was an avid TarHeel fan who enjoyed playing golf, attending his grandchildren’s activities, having lunch with friends, spending winters in Florida, and enjoyed time relaxing at his cabin on the river.

Surviving are his devoted wife of 57 years, Betsey Gallagher Satterfield; daughters Polly Smith (Mark) and Elizabeth Totten (Michael); and grandchildren Riley (Te’yha), Julia, Lauren (Adam), Sam, Paige, Taylor, and Tyler (Amanda).

Bill will always be remembered for his humor, kindness, generosity, and unwavering love for his family and friends.

Funeral services for Bill will be Saturday August 30, 2025 at 2:00 PM at the Old Stone Presbyterian Church in Lewisburg with Rev. Julie Olt officiating, interment will follow at the Rosewood Cemetery in Lewisburg.

A visitation will be held on Friday August 29, 2025 at the Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home in Lewisburg from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM.

Those wishing may make a contribution in Bill’s memory to Old Stone Presbyterian Church or Davis Stuart School.

Samuel Marion Stone IV

1959
 


Samuel Marion Stone IV

July 21, 1941 - June 6, 2025

Wilmington, North Carolina - Born July 21, 1941, in Charleston, WV to Samuel Marion Stone, III and Harriett Campbell Peters Stone, the Rev. Dr. Samuel Marion Stone, IV died at on June 6, 2025 in Wilmington after enduring a lengthy Alzheimer's and vascular dementia diagnosis.

As a child, Sam enjoyed learning about gardening and farming, working alongside his many cousins on both the Stone and the Peters' sides. His grandfather, Sam II, descended from English migrants who valued education, he grew up on large farms in south-central Virginia, graduated from medical school at UVA, served as a physician for coal miners and their families, and helped establish Charleston General Hospital. His mother Harriett's Scotch-Irish family settled on the edge of Peters Mountain in Union, West Virginia where her father, Samuel Clark Peters, owned and managed a large cattle farm, raising a family of seven children with Roberta Grace (Bertie) Campbell Peters.

With this heritage, Sam was always focused on education, starting with his choice to attend Greenbrier Military School (1956-59), where he graduated as the valedictorian and recipient of the leadership medal. He earned his BA and MDiv at Duke University and his Doctor of Ministry at Union Theological Seminary in Richmond. He was ordained in the Presbyterian Church in 1967 and served as a minister in the Presbyteries where he lived, preaching, teaching, and serving on committees and boards of the Presbytery.

He had a varied and challenging career, starting as a chaplain at Colgate University in Hamilton NY, then as the first director of development at the UNC School of the Arts where he served for 20 years, at the NC Museum of Art, and finally dedicating 18 years to start and serve as executive director of Glenaire, the Presbyterian retirement community in Cary, NC, where he retired in 2007.

Sam married his high school sweetheart and fellow Duke alumna, Bonnie Gray Vick in 1963 in Old Stone Church in Lewisburg, WV. They were married for 45 years before her death in 2008. They had two daughters, Clare Fischer Stone Jordan (Winston-Salem) and Sarah Marion Stone Reeves (Raleigh). Clare has three daughters: Katie Gray Jackson (married to Austin Jackson), Harriett "Hattie" Altmann, Sarah Altmann, and a son, Jack Jordan, from her second marriage with Fred Bunch Jordan. Sarah is married to Charles Mercer Reeves, III "Terry". Sam reconnected with Virginia Lockamy, friends from a Duke Chapel project in the Edgemont community of Durham in 1966, and they were married in 2010. They moved to Wilmington in 2016 where they enjoyed a view overlooking the Intercoastal Waterway, local outings, bike rides, kayaking, and travels across the U.S and Europe.

Sam always saw himself as a student, focused largely on theology and history. He especially loved reminiscing about his West Virginia ancestry. He was an active and committed Rotarian in Winston-Salem and in Downtown Raleigh where he was Rotarian of the Year in 2014, in addition to contributing roles on many boards, volunteering and serving in church activities in every stage of life. Some favorites were cooking breakfast for the First Presbyterian Church Early Birds, ringing bells at Christmas for the Salvation Army, writing the 100-year history of the Downtown Raleigh Rotary Club, volunteering on numerous Habitat worksites and various mission trips to Central America, contributing his skills on the board of Capital Towers in downtown Raleigh, and at Poplar Grove Plantation in Wilmington. For all of his life, Sam Stone was known to dutifully and humbly put his faith into action through service.

Sam is predeceased by his parents and his first wife, Bonnie Vick Stone. He leaves behind his devoted wife, Virginia Lockamy Stone, and a loving sister, Alix Stone Berlien, in addition to his two daughters and extended family and friends.

A service of the Witness to the Resurrection will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Raleigh on June 28th at 11 a.m., followed by refreshments with the family at the church.

The family is grateful to the attentive care Sam received while living at Bradley Creek Health Center, especially the Memory Care staff, with a special thanks to Chandler Thigpen, RN, and to Lower Cape Fear LifeCare.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes gifts in memory of Samuel M. Stone IV to First Presbyterian Church (112 S Salisbury St, Raleigh, NC 27601) or The Rotary Club of Raleigh (P.O. Box 20807 Raleigh, NC 27619).
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Powell T. Smith

1964
 

Powell T. Smith, PG Class of 1964
Died June 6, 2025

Powell Thomas Smith passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family and dear friends that are family.

Always affectionately known as “Smitty, Smitman, Miff and Bruddy; his demeanor and familiar nicknames always made others feel immediately at ease. Smitty leaves his wife, Nell: daughter Maggie (Greg), grandsons Tom and Ed Mielczarek: son JP, granddaughters, Evie, Fern, and Ingrid Revel. His daughter, Jenny (Beni) with grandchildren Louis and Kim Fischer who reside in Basel, Switzerland. A beloved nephew, Willy Cardin (Dana) with children Hank and Eleanor, from Nashville, TN. Last but not least, his dog, Cece.

His parents Clara Mae Powell Smith and William Thomas Smith, along with his sister Bettie Jo Cardin from Fort Thomas Kentucky predeceased him.

An athlete for life, Smitty played football at Highlands High School in Ft Thomas Kentucky, Greenbrier Military School, and the University of Kentucky. Golf was a passion as well. Though it wasn’t noticeable, he was a strong competitor. He coordinated annual golf outings with lifelong Kentucky friends as well as his regular Thursday men’s day at Leland CC where his humility and good nature almost made losing to him a good time.

Smitty had a kind soul and a gift of making you feel special and seen. He never envied anyone, but was happy for others good fortune. He was a true Southern gentleman who valued tradition and class, always stood for a lady and would hold the door open for all. He was quiet, confident, and patient. He was like a safe harbor, listened without judgement and was always there when needed.

Always humble, he was a role model for many young men. His grace made all around him feel at ease and comfortable and once you were in his circle, he had your back for life. If you were lucky enough to be in that circle, you could be the subject of many practical jokes. His greatest joy was to make people laugh. When emotions were high, Smit could diffuse any stressful situation into laughter to lighten the mood. Teamwork was always the name of the game. A salesman by nature, it came easy to manage his wife’s art career.

He helped start The Leland Business Association, worked successfully in Real Estate with loyal clients, worked and enjoyed his group at AA helping as best he could. He was a Board Member of the Leland Public Library and The Old Art Building for years and helped both to become what they are today. He was excellent at lending a hand, caring for others and leading by example, quietly.

We ask in Smitty’s honor, you take a moment to slow down, smile at a stranger, give an extra tip and say hello to a passing dog. Extend yourself in kindness to your community for the greater good. Rest easy, Smitman.

A Celebration will be held for Smitty on Wednesday August 13th at the Leland Country Club at 2:00 PM, followed by a reception at his home along the river in Leland.

If you want to make a contribution in his honor, The Old Art Building, The Leland Public Library and Lake Leelanau Lake Association would be high on his list.

Please share condolences with the family at www.martinson.info.

Arrangements are with Martinson Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Leelanau.

James E. Callis

1953
 

James Edward Callis passed away on March 26, 2025.

Born in Clarksburg, West Virginia, on Sept.12, 1934, to Thomas Callis and Mary Chloe Summerfield Callis.

He is survived by daughters Leanna Wilson and husband Michael of Sterling, Virginia, grandson Alex and great grandchildren Avery and Aston; Traci Wheeler and husband Dwayne of Southlake, Texas; and Marcia Chloe Boyer and husband Tom and grandson Rocco Boyer of Omaha, Nebraska; and companion Sally Moore of Mountain Home.

James was preceded in death by his son, James Ray Callis; and wife of 61 years, Leanna Rae Callis.

His mother instilled in him his deep faith in Jesus Christ, and he is now reunited with his son and wife in heaven.

James "Jim" Callis attended Greenbrier Military School, graduating 1953 and earned degrees from Michigan State University and Midwestern Bible College. Jim was quite the character and was known for many things. He was a talented golfer, played basketball with maximum athleticism, he was an artist, comedian, videographer, and voracious reader. He never met a stranger. And he loved the Lord with all his heart, soul and mind.

A Celebration of Life was held April 11 at First United Methodist Church of Mountain Home, as well as a casual gathering of friends and family later that evening.

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