Class of 1962

Class of 1962


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Class of 1962 - Key Data

  • Appointed:465 on Friday, June 27, 1958
  • Graduated:298 on Wednesday, June 6, 1962
  • Commissions:
  • USAF-291
  • US Army-1
  • US Navy-3
  • US Marine Corps-3
  • Graduation Speaker:
  • Lyndon B. Johnson, Vice President of the United States
  • Presented Commissions:
  • General Curtis E. LeMay, Chief of Staff, USAF
  • Presented Diplomas:
  • Lyndon B. Johnson, Vice President of the United States
  • Cadet Wing Commanders:
  • Donald W. Shepperd (Fall); David H. Roe (Spring)
  • Scholarships:
  • Rhodes Scholars: Robert Baxter, Richard Klass, David Roe; Olmsted Scholars: Warren Robbins, Henry (Butch) Viccellio, P.D. Robinson, P.K. Robinson
  • All-Americans (sports):
  • Jon Staples (Soccer); Robert Baxter (football), Gary Forrest (fencing), Don Baucom (football - academic)
  • Class Officers:
  • Richard Klass, President; Jerry Smith, Treasurer; Scribe: John W. "Jack" Jamba
Heraldry:

Class Motto: "Invictus Virtute", meaning "Unconquerable Strength"

The 1962 class ring was designed by a committee comprised of one cadet from each of the 16 Squadrons in the Cadet Wing. Our class was branded as "original red tags" by the three upper classes and we wanted a very distinctive design reflective of unique spirit exhibited by the class of 1962. All prior rings portrayed a symmetrical falcon and a symmetrical four-number class graduation date. We decided that an assymetric wing design depicting the falcon just prior to striking its prey would be unique and beautiful. We purposefully left out the century number and used only the year of our graduation, "62." The cadet sabre is a reminder of our cadet years as are the heraldic clouds taken from cadet shoulder boards in the border design just below the falcon. The fourth graduating class from the Air Force Academy is symbolized in the four electrons in the atomic symbol between the motto banner. The graduating class order is further symbolized in the Roman numerals from the first letters of the class motto, IV. The motto of the class of 1962 is Invictus Virtute, "Unconquerable Strength." Polaris, the navigator's star, symbolizes our lives guided by an unchanging code of honor. The star wraps under the ring to another Polaris star on the other side of the ring where the USAFA official seal appears, as it has on every class ring issued since the first class in 1959.

Contributions of Graduates:

Cadet Richard Klass saves a drowning woman who had fallen into the Seine River in Paris.  Cadet Klass later received a certificate and medal for his courage from the French Consul in Denver (1960).

Thomas Hutchison becomes the first USAFA graduate wounded in combat, and the first to be awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star (1963).

Ervin Rokke selected as one of the Outstanding Young Men of America (1972).

Warren Robbins selected as one of the Outstanding Young Men of America (1972).

Ervin Rokke becomes first graduate selected as  USAFA Dean of Faculty (1984).

Peter Robinson and his wife, Patricia, receive the first General and Mrs. Jerome F. O'Malley Award. (1986).

Ervin Rokke named USAFA Distinguished Graduate (2007).

Donald Shepperd named USAFA Distinguished Graduate (2008).

Gaillard Peck inducted into the Nevada Aerospace Hall of Fame (2013).

George Harrison receives the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award from the FAA (2016).



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