Alumni Weekend honors Army aviator, beloved coach and American Warrior tradition

During Alumni Weekend, held April 22-23, former cadets, supporters and friends of the Institute descended on campus to celebrate class reunions as well as the current Corps of Cadets. Selected as Alumni Brigade Honored Teacher was Marion native Sheldon "Buzzie" Fitts, who began and ended his lifelong career as an educator as a staffer from 1963-67 and 2001-2009. 

Safford's own Walter H. Givhan, MMI class of 1953 high school and 1955 junior college, was selected as Alumnus of the Year 2016. Givhan's career includes time as an Army aviator, farmer, college instructor, and banker. Now retired, he lives in Destin and returns home often to the family farm in Dallas County. On Saturday, the full-dress pass in review was held in his honor. 

Friday's donor recognition ceremony welcomed MMI's most generous donors to campus for induction into giving societies. MMI Foundation scholarship recipients were also invited to the luncheon with donors in attendance. Presenting an award during this same ceremony was Brigadier General "Doc" Bahnsen, who announced the Future American Warrior award winner, who graciously accepted his Remington pistol onstage. BG Bahnsen, an MMI alumnus and West Point graduate, is one of the most highly-decorated soldiers of the Vietnam era, having earned 5 Silver Stars.