Memories: Funeral Home Suit

Not many people can say they’ve had the job they always wanted, but I did at an early age and that was serving as Sonny’s Military Caseworker and Military Legislative Assistant.

I remember the day I got the phone call from Sonny to come to Washington. After I hung up the phone, I quickly realized I had no business suits to wear since prior to this time the only suit of clothes I had to wear was the Air Force uniform. To assist me in my dilemma, my mother spoke to my Uncle Hansel Willis and Uncle Larry “Duke” Willis, both who were employed with Webb Funeral Home of Newton, in the hope they had some old suits I could wear. As you are probably aware, funeral homes keep their employees clothed in the finest quality suits for that type of business. As luck would have it they had some I could wear and on my first day on the job, I reported to Sonny in one of my finest Brooks Brothers suit and tie.

As part of the game in Washington, Sonny and his buddies, especially his old pal LTG John Conaway, Chief of the National Guard Bureau had a habit of when meeting their friends, to inspect your ties and suit coats to check the manufacturer. While standing in front of the office one day waiting to go to a hearing, the curiosity had finally gotten the best of Sonny, and he looked at my coat and saw the Brooks Brothers tag and immediately asked, “How much am I paying you”!

From that day forward, he always made jokes about me getting my clothes from the funeral home!

Shared by Bo Maske, former Military Legislative Assistant, G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery

Memories: Bush (41) & Sonny Compare Scars!

Sonny with  BushesA few months following the 92 election, former President Bush (41) came by the office with his son Marvin, to visit with Sonny.

Of course all of us staffers were glad to see the President and meet Marvin, but prior to leaving, Sonny told 41, while we were all standing in front of the receptionist desk, “George you haven’t seen my new knee!”

So Sonny began rolling up his britches leg and then President Bush said “Well, I’m going to pull an LBJ,” and he started pulling up his shirt to show Sonny his appendix scar!

The staff got a big kick out of that as I am sure Marvin did.

Shared by Bo Maske, former Military Legislative Assistant, G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery

GVM Foundation Donates To NGEF

From The National Guard Association of the United States:

Guard Legion: 15 Large Donors Aid NGEF

The National Guard Educational Foundation has 11 new large benefactors to help fund the telling of the Guard story.

Foundation officials inducted the 11 into the Legion de Lafayette, which is reserved for those who donate at least $10,000 to the foundation, at a reception July 14 following the summer meeting of the NGAUS board of directors in Washington, D.C.

The NGEF also used the occasion to recognize four existing LdL members for adding to earlier contributions.

In all, the 15 honorees provided a combined $150,000 to the NGEF, which operates a variety of public education programs, including the National Guard Memorial Museum.

The new LdL members include corporations, state Guard associations, the elected heads of NGAUS and the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States, and the foundation for the late congressman known as Mr. National Guard on Capitol Hill.

They are: AMERIPACK Inc., retired Col. Edwin Livingston and Marcia Gosline, retired Brig. Gen. John L. Jones, retired Chief Master Sgt. Roger A. Hagan and Family in memory of Master Sgt. Doris “Dorrie” Hagan, Humana Military Healthcare Services, retired Maj. Gen. Harold Gwatney, the G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Foundation, the National Guard Association of Maryland, Remember My Service, the Wisconsin National Guard Association in honor of retired Lt. Col. Ronald R. Wagner, and Maj. Gen. Frank and Jane Vavala.

James G. ( Bo) Maske representing The G. V. “Sonny” Montgomery Foundation at our being inducted into the Legion de Lafayette which is reserved for those who donate at least $10,000 to the National Guard Education Foundation at a reception July 14th following the summer meeting of the National Guard Association of the U.S. (NGAUS) Board of directors in Washington, D.C.

Chris Mears & Associates Inc., Cobham, EADS North America and the NGAUS Committee on Company Grade Issues all added $10,000 each to their existing donations.

EADS North America is one of the NGEF’s corporate contributors. The manufacturer of the UH-72 Lakota helicopter has now donated $85,000.

GI Bill Celebration Photos

This is an example post. It’s different from a blog post because it will stay in one place and will show up in your site navigation (in most themes). Most people start with an About page that introduces them to potential site visitors. It might say something like this:

Hi there! I’m a bike messenger by day, aspiring actor by night, and this is my blog. I live in Los Angeles, have a great dog named Jack, and I like piña coladas. (And gettin’ caught in the rain.)

…or something like this:

The XYZ Doohickey Company was founded in 1971, and has been providing quality doohickies to the public ever since. Located in Gotham City, XYZ employs over 2,000 people and does all kinds of awesome things for the Gotham community.

As a new WordPress user, you should go to your dashboard to delete this page and create new pages for your content. Have fun!

G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Foundation Makes Donation to MSU-Meridian

Montgomery Donation(MERIDIAN) – The G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Foundation presented Mississippi State University-Meridian with a $10,000 donation on Friday, May 18 at 4 pm in Kahlmus Auditorium. The donation is part of a $50,000 commitment on behalf of the G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Foundation to advance academic programs at MSU-Meridian.

According to Bo Maske, executive director and president of the G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Foundation, “Sonny left us an enduring legacy built on service, leadership, and support for education. With this gift to his alma mater, we continue to honor that legacy by helping advance higher education in Meridian, Lauderdale County, and throughout east Mississippi.”

“Anyone familiar with higher education in Mississippi is aware of the tremendous impact and influence of Sonny Montgomery,” said Dr. Steve Brown, dean and associate vice president of MSU-Meridian. “The G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Foundation is carrying this commitment forward for future generations of students, and MSU-Meridian is honored and humbled to be part of this incredible commitment.”

The G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Foundation also unveiled a bronze bust of the late congressman that will grace the lobby of the College Park campus.

Montgomery BustThe bust, created by Dr. Kim Sessums, a physician in Brookhaven and a renowned artist and sculptor, stands approximately 24 inches high. In addition to the original Sonny Montgomery bust which resides at Mitchell Memorial Library at MSU-Starkville, Sessums has, to his commission credits, bronze busts of Billy Graham, Eudora Welty, and the artist, Andrew Wyeth. All four of these individuals were recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The bust is positioned on a 44-inch tall pedestal made of walnut constructed by Albert Weems, an accomplished wood craftsman and Meridian native as well as a long-time friend of the congressman.

“MSU-Meridian held a special place in Sonny’s heart, and he maintained an unofficial office on campus after returning home from Washington, D.C.,” noted Bob Bailey, G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Foundation board member. “It is very fitting that we honor that memory with the donation of this bust.”

Three receive Montgomery Foundation Scholarships

STARKVILLE, Miss.–Three Mississippi State seniors are receiving the university’s 2011 G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Foundation Scholarships.

Shaun M. Cooper of Newton, David A. Jackson of Starkville and Eric M. Page of Huntsville, Ala., are participants in MSU’s Montgomery Leadership Program, and members of either the campus Army or Air Force reserve officers training corps.

The $3,000 foundation awards were established in 2007 as a memorial to the late 3rd District congressman and MSU alumnus from Meridian. Selections are made on the basis of academic achievements, as well as demonstrated leadership abilities and commitments to personal development, among other qualifications.

Cooper is a secondary education major and a graduate of Newton County High School in Decatur. At MSU, he has been involved with the College of Education Ambassadors, Phi Theta Kappa Alumni Society, Mississippi Model United Nations Security Council, Spectrum student organization, and Phi Kappa Phi honor society.

Cooper’s community service projects have included work at Baptist Centers for Cancer Care, MSU’s Studio School and an alternative spring break trip to Niceville, Fla.

A Starkville High School graduate, Jackson is a junior kinesiology major who joined the AFROTC program in 2008. An Air Force Field Training graduate, he was in the top third of his class. In the cadet wing, he currently is training 15 cadets for this summer’s Air Force Fitness Test.

Having held other cadet wing positions as physical training commander, executive officer assistant and general military course adviser, Jackson is a deputy squadron commander for the Arnold Air Society, an honorary service organization. He becomes commander in the fall.

Page, a Virgil I. Grissom High School graduate, is an industrial technology major. Since entering MSU’s AROTC program, he has served as both cadet and Ranger company commander. A 2009 graduate of the Army Airborne School at Fort Benning, Ga., he last year attended the Leadership Development and Assessment Course at Fort Lewis, Wash., and graduated in the top 10 percent of his regiment.

Page now serves as the cadet executive officer of the MSU Bulldog Battalion.

The G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Foundation was established more than a decade ago by the late U.S. representative and former Mississippi State student body president. Designed to help carry his legacy forward, the foundation works to encourage leadership development, education, excellence in scholarship, and support of various military and veteran projects.

For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.