ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, May 16, 1996 TAG: 9605160177
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: LEXINGTON
SOURCE: JENNIFER MILLER STAFF WRITER
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER HE'S NOT, but VMI's commencement speaker had some pretty strong words for the graduates, anyway: Don't whine.
First classmen at Virginia Military Institute decided they wanted the Terminator to speak at this year's graduation.
The class of 1996 invited Arnold Schwarzenegger to speak at their commencement Wednesday afternoon.
But they couldn't get him, so an alumnus, a CEO of a major Virginia corporation, stepped in to take the space that would have been occupied by Schwarzenegger's broad shoulders.
"We have a history of wanting very famous people and not getting them," class president John Buchanan said.
Schwarzenegger turned down the invitation because he is on location six days a week in Minneapolis, according to his agent, Lou Pitt. He is shooting his latest film, "Jingle All The Way."
Instead, Maj. Gen. Josiah Bunting III, superintendent of VMI, called 1983 graduate Thomas E. "Teddy" Gottwald. Gottwald is president and chief executive officer of Richmond-based Ethyl Corp., which produces petroleum additives.
Gottwald told the 222 graduates that the lessons they have learned at VMI will help them in the military, the business world and in life.
"You're going to succeed if you earn your way one step at time," he said. "Of course, if your father owns the company, that may help, too."
Gottwald's father owns Ethyl.
"At VMI, you've learned how to take responsibility for your own actions," he told the graduates. "Remember that. Don't whine."
Valedictorian Christopher J. "Josh" Keesal Jr., a dean's list student and member of the Honor Court, also encouraged his classmates - known as "brother rats" - to seek out their own vision for the future.
"We must not go into the world hoping to succeed according to those already within it, but must go forth to teach integrity, serve our fellow man, and never, ever, compromise our beliefs," he said.
"Be men of vision. Have a vision of harmony for America. Have a vision of happiness for your family. But, most importantly, have a vision of integrity for yourself."
Keesal has a vision of his own. He was commissioned into the Army on Tuesday. He heads to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, June 23 for two years of active duty. Later he hopes to attend flight school to train to fly medical evacuation helicopters.
The class of 1996 may be one of the last to graduate from VMI while it is a single-sex school. The Supreme Court will decide this summer whether the state-funded, all-male military school can exclude women.
Although little was said about the court case at graduation, speakers encouraged the graduates and other cadets to remain active in the VMI community.
"Whatever the outcome of the Supreme Court case, and any other senseless attacks that come on VMI in the future, the school and tomorrow's Keydets will need your encouragement and loyal support to keep the VMI spirit alive," Gottwald said.
Bunting had similar remarks.
VMI "is not a bastion or fortress," he said. "This school is and should be a beacon. And we should be aggressive and feisty. In my view, this is what our society and culture need in this time in history."
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