VOL. 50 MARCH 2016 NO. 1 CONTENTS President’s Message......................................................................................................1 Office Manager/Secretary’s Message...........................................................................2 Editor’s Corner...............................................................................................................8 2016 Nominating Committee Report............................................................................3 Instructions for Voting....................................................................................................4 Slate of Officers for 2016­2018......................................................................................4 OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR 2014­2016 April PCS Spring Picnic / Directions.............................................................................6 Membership News.......................................................................................................7 MR. MIKE COFFEY Synopsis of Minutes Executive Board and General Membership Meetings...............7 President 2016 Reunion Coordinators March Update.................................................................8 (813) 494­5007 2016 Reunion Annual Luncheon Speaker.....................................................................9 MRS. SHIRLEY AVERY 2016 Reunion Annual Pool Party...................................................................................9 1st Vice President 2016 Reunion Cultural Seminar...................................................................................10 (813) 831­4114 2016 Reunion Annual Meeting for General Membership............................................10 2016 Reunion Beverage Bar Ticket Sales...................................................................11 MS. KATHY MALIN 2016 Reunion Golf Tournament Updates.....................................................................11 2nd Vice President (904) 923­6039 PCS Christmas Luncheon Pictures..............................................................................12 October Annual Panazonian Picnic and PCS General Membership Meeting...............16 MRS. KELLY PARTHENAIS Legislation Report...................................................................................................16 Director Your Reporter Says: (727) 892­9994 California......................16 FL Space Coast..................21 North Carolina...................28 MS. BRITTNEY WILDER FL Central Florida.............18 FL Tampa...........................23 Northwest.....................29 Director FL North Central...............19 Georgia.........................25 Panama........................30 (352) 566­7121 FL Pensacola.....................21 Midwest.........................27 Texas................................31 MR. MIKE YOUNG Director Congratulations......................................................................................................33 (813) 751­6881 Weddings...................................................................................................................36 Births....................................................................................................36 MR. RAYMOND HUSUM With Deep Sorrow........................................................................................................37 Director­At­Large Looking Back...............................................................................................................47 (864) 357­6220 The Cocoli Dictionary..................................................................................................49 Letters to the Editor......................................................................................................56 MR. TOM WILDER Past President Friends of the Panama Canal Museum.........................................................................60 (352) 566­7121 Announcements......................................................................................................62 Advertisements..................................................................................................64 MS. NOREEN HANSON Membership Application Form..................................................................................69 Treasurer Annual Associate Membership Application Form.......................................................71 (813) 777­2931 Panama Canal Society Merchandise Form............................................................70, 72 MR. JAMES J. O’DONNELL Legislative Representative Cover: 2016 Panama Canal Society decal created by Mr. Al Spague. (727) 894­2478 MR. PATRICK SMITH Sergeant­at­Arms DATES TO REMEMBER (813) 385­6708 Apr 23 Space Coast Bunco XI, Merritt Island, Fla., Veterans Memorial Center. MR. RICHARD GRIMISON Chaplain Contact Peggy Huff at (321) 455­1649 or [email protected]. (321) 452­6246 May 7 Oklahoma PCS Meeting at Norman, Okla. Contact Laura (Burns) MR. BILL MCLAUGHLIN Redemann at (918) 605­2334 or email [email protected]. Bylaws Chairperson / Historian (352) 726­8804 May 14 PCS Annual Picnic, Shelter #1 at Philippe Park, Safety Harbor, Fla, 12:00 MRS. CHERYL WILLIAMS noon. Contact Kelly Parthenais at (727) 892­9994 (evenings). Secretary 727­372­1800 (Office) May 22 Southern California’s Panama Potluck Luncheon: Laguna Woods, Calif. 11:00 a.m. Contact David Lane at (619) 665­2857 or email at MS. JACQUE (CROWELL) VOWELL Editor [email protected] or call Jolie Seeley at (949) 586­5812. (386) 451­4779 (evenings) Jul 6­10Panama Canal Society Annual Reunion, Rosen Shingle Creek Resort, MR. CHRIS WILDER Orlando, Fla. Visit http://www.pancanalsociety.org/ to view yellow pages Web Master (352) 207­6755 and register online or call 813­949­6699. Panama Canal Society, Inc. (A Not­For­Profit Organization) “To preserve American Ideals and Canal Zone Friendships” 19001 Sunlake Blvd., Lutz, Fla. 33558 The Canal Record (ISSN 0528­0001) is published quarterly in March, June, October, and December Periodicals postage paid at Largo, Florida, and additional entry for March, June, October and December issues. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Canal Record, 7985 19001 Sunlake Blvd., Lutz, Fla. 33558 The membership fee is $40.00 annually. The Annual Directory is published once a year. Panama Canal Society, Inc., reserves the right to refuse to print anything derogatory or of a controversial nature, including any advertising not in the best interests of the Panama Canal Society, whose sole aim is to Preserve American Ideals and Canal Zone Friendships. Single copies for sale at $7.00 each (postage is included) to members only. All photographs and correspondence sent to the Panama Canal Society, Inc., will become the property of the Society and will be retained in the Society files and archives. Panama Canal Society, Inc., assumes no responsibility for advertisements placed in the Canal Record. Office phone: (813) 949­6699 Hours: Closed Monday, Tuesday thru Thursday 9:00 a.m.­12:00 noon, 1:00­4:00 p.m., Friday 9:00 a.m.­12:00 noon Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Web site: http://www.pancanalsociety.org/ Printed by North Florida Graphics, 19566 SE Institution Dr., Blountstown, FL 32424 PRESIDENT’S allotment is full, we will not be able to obtain additional rooms. Anyone needing to book a hotel offsite will have to MESSAGE arrange their own transportation to and from the hotel. Easy solution—register now! Hello members! I hope your 2016 As always, I want to thank you for supporting the Society is off to a great start. We have some with your membership. Your membership allows us to create great events planned for this year, and I this Canal Record and maintains our Society so that we can hope you will find time to attend as perpetuate lasting friendships. Have a great Spring and I many as you can. hope to see you at an upcoming event. I want to first thank Al Sprague Mike Coffey for designing this year’s Annual Mike Coffey, President Membership Decal, which is included in this edition of the Canal Record. Each year we try to create a unique member­ ship decal you can proudly display on your car, or wherever OFFICE MANAGER/SECRETARY you choose. Al’s drawing is a depiction of his beautiful paint­ ing “The Path Between The Seas”, two ships passing in the MESSAGE Culebra Cut. Thank you, Al! Al entertained us at last year’s Annual Luncheon and this year we will have another great artist sharing his experiences, Cheryl Williams, Secretary work, and art ­ George Scribner. George’s bio is in the fol­ (727) 372­1800 lowing pages and I hope you will plan to join us at our Annual Email: [email protected] Luncheon to hear what I’m sure will be a great presentation. Our 2016 Annual Reunion will be our final year of three years at Rosen Shingle Creek. It is a wonderful property, a great staff, and I hope you plan to attend. If you’re looking for something to do prior to the Reunion I hope to see you at our Annual Society Picnic on Saturday, May 14th in Safety Harbor, Fla. We moved the picnic from March to May to ensure warm weather. Bring a dish to share and have a great time with fellow Zonians! Our deadline for Reunion registration is May 1st. I strongly encourage you to register as soon as possible because the hotel will not allow us to exceed our room block due to other events happening at the hotel. Once our room 1 EDITOR CORNER I hope to see many Society members at the Smathers DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING ADS, Library at UF in Gainesville in April. I