MEMORIAL TO WILLIAM D. WHITE, USMA CLASS OF 1962

Through much creative searching on the West Point site and the AOG, I have found your addresses.

My uncle was William D. White (Bill). We lost him one year ago today. In my father's absence, Bill stepped in and led the way. I spent many summers with him and my cousins. Bill was like my father, my cousins are like brothers (unlike most families), and my Aunt is my second mother. Karen and Bill grew closer to my wife and me in the last several years. We spent many hours "temporarily disoriented"in the woods while hiking, and hunting.

Bills contagious love of biking took me over and we rode together frequently completing the Santa Fe Century in 2000, and many trips to Steamboat to take in local roads and trails, as well as Boulder, and here in Denver. The day he died we were supposed to ride back from Colorado Springs together, but my daughter was sick so I cancelled. Today is a tough day.

I am writing to let you know, and to hopefully communicate with the other classmates, that we have organized a ride in memory of Bill. I have rallied my family, and many friends, to ride the Triple By-Pass (linked to site) on July 13. It is a one-day ride from Evergreen, Colorado to Avon, Colorado (just west of Vail), covering 120+ miles and climbing Squaw, Loveland and Vail Passes, a gain of 10,550 feet. I am told it is the toughest organized ride in the States that is not a race. Fitting. Bill and his best friend, Fritz Keefner, completed the ride in 1998. Bill said it was the toughest thing he had ever done, and considering the audience, that is saying a lot. I completed it in 2000, just to see how I measure up, and I almost talked Bill into it again that year. I guess the ether wore off before he committed, or Karen reminded him about the last time. It was damn tough.

Riding it will be me, my cousins (his sons Tom and Don), my two other uncles (one from Nebraska, and one from Missouri), another cousin from Nebraska (just graduated Nebraska ROTC and awaiting Navy flight training), Fritz, and some friends. Tom has thrown down the challenge to beat all comers, a tall order since Don is a CAT 3 racer in Texas, I ride frequently, and he just picked it up last fall.

We will be wearing West Point Triathlon jerseys I found. (Go here if you have not seen them). We will be individually customizing them with special words for the ride. Tom and I rode a local century last weekend, and I wore mine. I received numerous comments.

I want you and his class to know that he is missed, and that we are taking great lengths to give him a proper memorial ride. It is healing, and provides focus. I don't know what you all can do, but I want to get the word out. Please distribute this as possible. Karen and Fritz are arranging a post ride party, and our spouses will be on the course cheering us on. Maybe some classmates or alumni can join us on the ride, along the way, or at the end. We would love to have more West Point grads, even beyond the Class of 62. A West Point representation would be great.

Please let me know your thoughts. For your records, Karen's and Don's email addresses are kwhiteinco@msn.com and don.white@olympus.com, respectively.

So you know, I am an Army veteran myself.

Thanks. Jay Nelson

* 303-570-6055

* JNelson@autotrek.com

* WillieNelsonJr@msn.com