Alpine Camp Blogs » Alumni Stories

Richard Ragan’s Story

weldon — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:31:04 +0000

I’m staring out at the Himalaya range from my window in Kathmandu, Nepal having just had a wonderful phone conversation with my Mother about our days at Alpine. I’m flooded with so many wonderful memories. We were a full-on Alpine family with three boys as campers (me, Rob and Jay) and a sister (Melissa) at Desoto. What a long trip it has been since my Hunter year in Crazy Horse cabin. I remember thinking back then that a month away from home was like a lifetime. Yet, I soon learned that the days were filled with so much activity that time always slipped by too fast. Probably one of the most valuable gifts from my years as a camper was all the friends I made. Having been both a 1st and 2nd termer, a Mohawk (only once) and a Cherokee, a Medicine Man one year and Chief the next, by the time I arrived at Ole Miss as freshman, I felt like I already knew the entire school. Always a highlight during those cold winter months, was Mr. Dick turning up on his annual recruiting tour to show us the year’s highlight reel. I imagine Kathmandu might be a little too far for him to travel? And slaughter ball may be the greatest game every invented. I still can’t believe there isn’t a pro league!

Personal Update
I got married about 10 years ago to Marcela Sandoval from Texas whom I met while working in Washington DC. We have 3 children: Zoey who is 7, and 5 year old twins Carter and Emma.

I’m working as a Diplomat for the United Nations and currently serving as the Representative to Nepal for the UN World Food Program. Oddly enough for a boy from the Mississippi Delta, I’ve become a high altitude climber and big mountain snowboarder so Nepal, which is home to 8 of the 14 highest mountains on earth, is Nirvana! Over the years, we’ve lived in China, Zambia, North Korea, Nepal, and the Philippines.

Strolling Down Familiar Trails

dick — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:38:41 +0000

Will Miller with his nephews Cameron (left) and Ian Bush.

It is always a treat to have camp alumni stop by to visit. Yesterday, July 8, we had a wonderful visit with Will Miller. Will was on a business trip in this area with his employer, Phonetree, which specializes in medical software. Will was originally from Knoxville, TN and was a camper for six summers and a counselor one summer. Will and his wife, Kenzie, now live in Winston-Salem, NC. Their two sons, Trey and Duncan, were also Alpine Campers. Trey is in his 4^th year at UVA and Duncan will be a sophomore this fall at the Naval Academy. Will has two nephews at Alpine this summer. They are Ian and Cameron Bush from Appleton, WI. Ian is on Work Crew and Cameron is a first year chief. This is Ian’s 10^th summer and Cameron’s 8^th summer at camp.

Will says he still recalls with fondness his first summer as a camper, living in Longbow cabin with John Gilbert as his counselor. He attributes his faith in Christ to his counselors who nurtured him and provided a strong moral compass for him during those many summers on Lookout Mountain. Will and his family have a long history with Alpine Camp, and it was such a treat to have him back on the mountain.

Staff Highlight: A Word from Weldon Pless

carter — Tue, 05 May 2009 15:53:29 +0000

Weldon Pless (far left) with Rob Langley, David Steele, Chris Kerr and Clarke Norton

Here is an essay written by Weldon Pless. Weldon has been at Alpine every summer since he was in the first grade (only missing one summer). This year, after he graduates from Ole Miss we are excited that he will join our full time staff. I think you will enjoy Weldon’s reflections on camp!

Whenever I buy new music, I buy records. And that’s not just slang for CDs. I’m talking about black, vinyl, old-timey records. The ones you put on and sit back to listen to the entire thing without stopping. To me, Alpine is a bit like those records.

Records are sort of a step back in time. You can’t skip around to your favorite tracks or put all the freshest songs on a playlist. You can’t stick in your headphones and walk around town listening to records, or even play them in your car. But there are some really good things about it too. Listening to records allows you to really listen to the music. Once I take the time to put one on, I sit there and I listen to the whole thing, and I let myself enjoy it. I listen closer to songs I might have skipped if I was listening on my iPod. Stepping back in time to listen to my music actually lets me listen better. It slows me down and holds my attention.

The same is true of Alpine. Every summer I come back to ride horses instead of driving cars, to watch sunsets instead of watching television, and to sing songs instead of listening to the radio. It’s a step back in time, but it frees me up to really enjoy the summer.

Sometimes during the school year I don’t give myself a chance to slow down. I never stop long enough to notice the things around me like the sounds and smells of nature that are so prominent at camp. When it rains during the school year, I put on a movie or surf the internet. When it rains at camp, I listen to it.

I also have deeper conversations with friends at camp than I usually do in my life outside. At camp there is time to really talk. Whether it’s while walking to an activity period, playing ping pong, or eating a meal, deep conversations at camp seem to rise up organically. I think it’s because we’re given a schedule and an order in our days, and it frees up our minds to dwell on other things. Alpine lets us take a step back and enjoy living, and it’s one of the biggest reasons I come back every summer.

Tom McElroy

dick — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 16:20:01 +0000

Hello,

Fantastic new website – Looks GREAT!!

I have gained a few pounds since the picture of me holding the horse reigns while being brushed.

I would like to hear from any of the 1st session guys from 1976 – 1980.

Hope to hear from old friends!

Tom McElroy
115 Kingston Court
Starkville, MS 39759
Cell # 985.373.9082

Richard Lamb

dick — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 16:12:18 +0000

My name is Richard Lamb and there is no way I can put into words just what Alpine Camp has meant to both myself and my brothers. I have recently accepted a promotion within the company for which I am employed. The funny part about this promotion is that it takes me away from the city that I was born and raised. Shreveport, Louisiana will always be my real home but, I remember like it was yesterday flying into Birmingham and having a counselor me us at the airport to take that 2-3 hour ride on the bus to camp. We knew we were close when we crossed the bridge and could look down little river to the water front. The excitement of what new friends and old friends was almost more than we could stand. I remember so well my first year in the summer of 1968. My first counselor was a man named Bob Little and my cabin was Rabbit Run. I can’t tell you what I had for lunch yesterday, but I can tell you this kind of stuff that was 40 years ago. I would love nothing more than to see both Dick and Alice and give them both a big hug and thank them for being part of making me a better man today. I have a story to tell and it will be done in person with the two of them to make sure they really understand. I miss friends that I remember but have lost contact with over the years. My oldest boy graduated from LSU this past year and one of his fraternity brothers is the son of a fellow camper that I remembered so well 40 years ago. Please keep in touch with me and allow me to participate in any future alumni programs. My cousin Christopher Peatross was the one that told me about the alumni weekend this past summer. I am sorry I did not know about this and was not able to attend. I look forward to hearing back from you guys in the near future. To be honest it is almost difficult for me to write this letter because of the emotions that run through my mind. Nothing but happy thoughts. Time goes by much to fast. God bless you all for what you do for others each and everyday.