Brig. Gen. Charles D. "Rick" Ethredge began his long, distinguished military career at Clemson as an ROTC cadet. In 1969, he received a bachelor's degree in economics and a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force.

He completed undergraduate pilot training in 1970, and by August 1971, he began serving as a UH-1N pilot with the 20th Special Operations Squadron in Cam Rahn Bay, South Vietnam.

He later earned degrees from Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College, and Air War College. He rose steadily through the Air Force chain of command and earned the rank of brigadier general in 2003.

Throughout his 35 years in the Air Force, the general has received numerous awards and decorations for his service including the Legion of Merit, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Vietnam Service Award, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal. He also received two Kuwait Liberation Medals - one granted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the other by the government of Kuwait.

Ethredge currently serves as the deputy to the chief of Air Force Reserve at the U.S. Air Force Headquarters in Washington, D.C. He and his wife, Angela, are the parents of Clemson graduates Brian '92 and Chad '96.

To see past Alumni Fellow recipients or to nominate someone for a future award, visit the Web at alumni.clemson.edu.

Flavoring the future
Students Ashley Spokowski and Rachel Yost helped open the '55 Exchange in the Hendrix Center, current home to the MicroCreamery and Agricultural Sales Market. Thanks to the Class of 1955, students will get experience in marketing products they help produce. The '55 Exchange includes wonderful Clemson ice cream packaged in pints, fresh fruits and vegetables, frozen meat and other homegrown products.

The market is open on Fridays, noon to 3 p.m. For more information, call the food science and human nutrition department at (864) 656-3397 or visit the Web at www.clemson.edu/foodscience.

Leading alumni
The new Alumni Association president is mechanical engineering graduate Ben A. Leppard Jr. '74, principal and co-owner of Leppard Johnson and Associates in Marietta, Ga. He's also director and regional chair of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.

Leppard's service to Clemson includes being a member of the Atlanta Clemson Club board of directors for seven years and president of the club for the 1992-1993 term. A longtime IPTAY member, he has been a representative for eight years. During the University's last capital campaign, he served on the committee for the new engineering facility, now known as the Fluor Daniel Engineering Innovation Building.

"To support the University's drive to become a top-20 public university, the Alumni Association has adopted the theme of One Mind, One Spirit, One Clemson for the upcoming year," says Leppard. "Our efforts will focus on closer integration and communication with all University entities to strengthen the One Clemson concept, increase alumni participation in the Annual Fund and continue to develop all constituency groups through the Clemson Club structure."

What class!
Members of Clemson's Class of 1955, the University's last class to wear the cadet uniform all four years, gathered for a 50th anniversary group shot on the Military Heritage Plaza in June. Their Golden Anniversary Reunion Project includes the Class of 1955 MicroCreamery and Agricultural Sales Market, Libraries Endowment and Founders Garden.

The class has given the University more than $3.5 million for academics and services since 1955. For more about the Class of 1955, visit the Web at alumni.clemson.edu/byyear/1955/ projects.htm or call (864) 656-5896.

Study balcony
Joe Boykin, dean of Clemson Libraries, pictured with Harrison Trammell, president of Student Alumni Association (SAA), received a $5,865 check from SAA in April. The gift goes toward funding the outdoor study area on the Cooper Library balcony, begun by SAA last year. As part of the $20 SAA membership dues, $5 from each student goes to the Clemson Fund, which in turn goes to supporting the outdoor study area.

Up to the challenge
Greenville Luncheon Club president Margaret Worsham '71 presents President Barker with $2,500 in support of attracting more top faculty to Clemson. The club has taken the Palmetto Challenge, a way University supporters can help double their gifts through the state's Endowed Chairs Program. For more about the Palmetto Challenge, contact Brian O'Rourke, director of development and alumni affairs, at (864) 656-5658 or orourke@clemson.edu.

Newsletter for you
If you're not getting the electronic Clemson Alumni Newsletter between issues of Clemson World, you should. It's a light, bright update of Clemson events and alumni services. For example, the June newsletter featured photos from alumni reunion and graduation and highlighted a Clemson program in Belgium. It announced a special Young Alumni membership rate at the Walker Course, a way to sign up for "Gymsitters" child activities during football games and a new Clemson beach towel. To receive the newsletter, send an email message to cualums-L@clemson.edu.

Passport Travel 2006
The Alumni Association's 2006 Passport Travel program has exciting destinations for the coming year: Amazon River journey, Western Europe cruise, Spain land trip, Scandinavia cruise, Blue Danube cruise and Great Lakes cruise. For more information, call the Alumni Center at (864) 656-2345 or visit the Web at alumni.clemson.edu and click on "programs."