Florida Military School - Florida Military School History

Florida Military School History

1956-1971 by: Thornton J. Ridinger, Historian Class of 1959

Year 1: 1956-1957

On September 4, 1956, Florida Military School opened its doors to 63 cadets. Colonel Carl Ward, with founding partners Arthur Seascholz and W. K. Beman, started the school in a converted World War II Infirmary at the old DeLand Naval Air Station. The Mess Hall was in the old Officers Club, which later became the Canteen (the Joe C. Long Building). During the second semester they moved into the Naval Station's Bachelor Officers Quarters that was later named Howard Hall.

At Christmas break, Seascholz and Beman left the school, and Carl C. Schaefer, Sr., a trucking company executive from Dayton, Ohio, bought into the corporation and was given the title of Vice President (to Colonel Ward’s President and Headmaster). He maintained a partnership interest in the school until about 1961.

In the beginning, the school offered flight training for the cadets, but that was not offered in subsequent years, after the death of a cadet pilot, Donald Thompson, who crashed while on his first solo flight.

In sports, FMS fielded basketball, baseball, and track teams that year, but not a football team. The cadet corps was under the command of Cadet William V. Howard. Company B was named Honor Company of the year.

There were five graduating seniors the first year. Their names would be remembered by all subsequent cadets because the major buildings on campus were named in their honor.

Year 2: 1957-1958

The second year of the school (1957–58) saw a fourfold increase in attendance, with more than 260 cadets beginning the year and expanding into two dormitories, known as Howard and Alleyne Halls. The school’s administration was housed in the David G. Cannon Building. The year brought the beginning of the football program to the school, under the tutelage of head coach Earl Looman.

The year also marked the introduction of the cavalry unit, which participated in the Sunday Dress Parades of the Cadet Corps.

There were twenty-one graduates that year, with the total number of cadets being about 260. The cadet corps was under the leadership of Cadet Lawrence R. Foster. Company C was named Honor Company of the year.

The year marked the arrival of Major Joseph Siekanic as Commandant of Cadets, Captain William C. Prentiss as an instructor in Civics and English, and Captain William T. Bradford as the first Professor of Military Science and Tactics, and assistant football coach. The school gained accreditation from the State of Florida Department of Education and was designated by the US Army as an Honor National Defense Cadet Corps School during its second year of existence. Full accreditation on the regional and national level by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools followed in December, 1961.

A football team was fielded for the first time that year, and remained a part of the school’s athletic program until discontinued after the 1961-62 school year.

The first yearbook, “The Knight,” was dedicated to Mrs. Mary Ward.

Year 3: 1958-1959

The third year of the school saw the completion of a new mess hall, which was named the Carl C. Schaefer, Sr. Building. Later, after Mr. Schaefer ended his business relationship with the school, the building was renamed for Kenneth W. Hewitt, one of the first-year graduates.

There were twenty-three graduates that year, with a total of 226 cadets listed in the yearbook. The cadet corps was under the leadership of Cadet Dennis J. Eyre. Company D was named Honor Company of the year.

The year also brought the arrival of head football coach Captain Thomas Sperling, and Captains Dinkins and Pendarvis as faculty members. Captain Prentiss became Commandant of Cadets with a promotion to Major.

In February, the Florida Military School band played the Star Spangled Banner at the first running of the Daytona 500 at the new Daytona Speedway. It was reported that “merely” 41,000 people were in attendance.

The high point of the year for the senior class was a trip to New Orleans for the Mardi Gras, under the somewhat watchful eyes of Captains Whitler and Pendarvis. In addition to the party time of Mardi Gras, it brought the class together in bonds of friendship and camaraderie that had not previously been experienced.

The 1959 Knight was dedicated to the coaches: Bradford, Evans, Pendarvis, Prentiss, and Sperling.

Year 4: 1959-1960

The year brought further growth to the school There were 42 seniors listed in the yearbook, with the total number of cadets being 294. The cadet corps was under the leadership of Cadet Walter L. Preston. Company B was named Honor Company of the year.

1960 saw Major Prentiss become Director (later Dean) of Education, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Major Robert L. Moore as Commandant, and the arrival of Major Carl Steely as the Professor of Military Science and Tactics.

The 1960 Senior Trip was to also to the Mardi Gras in New Orleans, with Major Steely in attendance, where the cadets participated in one of the Mardi Gras parades.

The 1960 Knight was dedicated to Lt. Col. William C. Prentiss.

Year 5: 1960-1961

The year saw the opening of the new swimming pool on campus, and the start of a competitive swim team for the school.

The senior class numbered 37, with 289 total cadets listed in the yearbook. The cadet corps was under the leadership of Cadet Geoffrey Gentil. Company A was named Honor Company of the year.

It was noted in the yearbook that the FMS football team beat Admiral Farragut Academy in the annual “Junior Army-Navy Game” by a score of 28-0.

The 1961 Knight was dedicated to Colonel Carl Ward.

Year 6: 1961-1962

In September 1961, Florida Military College began operation. The college program operated through May, 1965. The Yearbook cited the new college class as the “Class of 1965”, which may have indicated a plan at that time for a four year college to be established. If so, that goal was not realized. It became, and remained, a two-year college during its existence.

The senior class numbered 51, with 277 cadets listed in the yearbook, plus 34 in the college program. The cadet corps was under the leadership of Cadet Peter A. Still. The Honor Company of the year was Band Company.

The year saw Captain Pendarvis become Assistant Commandant with a promotion to Major.

This was the last year of interscholastic football, with teams being fielded at both the high school and college levels.

The 1962 Knight was dedicated to Marcene Evans, who managed the dining hall throughout the school’s existence.

Year 7: 1962-1963

The senior class numbered 52, with 258 cadets listed in the yearbook, plus 36 in the college. The cadet corps was under the leadership of Cadet Joseph Leer. Company B was named Honor Company of the year. There were 5 sixth yearmen: John Barry, David Bokor, Joe Leer, Billy Edmondson, and David Tooker.

A highlight of the year was the visit to the campus of the Vienna Boys Choir. Another was the 1963 Senior Class Trip to Washington, DC.

The Yearbook was dedicated to Major Carl V. (Nutter) Steely, a former Marine officer, who had become Commandant that year with the departure of Major Moore. Major Pendarvis remained Assistant Commandant, in charge of the junior high school cadets.

Year 8: 1963-1964

The senior class of 1964 numbered 56, with 291 cadets listed in the yearbook, plus 28 in the college. There were 2 sixth year men: John Venable and Mike Costello. The cadet corps was under the leadership of Cadet Venable. Company C was named Honor Company of the year.

The year saw the return of its first FMS graduate to become a member of the faculty: Jerry Alleyne, Class of 1957.

The 1964 Knight was dedicated to Major James William Pendarvis.

Year 9: 1964-1965

The senior class numbered 63, with 249 cadets listed in the yearbook, plus 29 in the college. There were 4 sixth year men: Wayne Arnold, Don Campbell, Bruce Palmisano, and Donald Rounds. The cadet corps was under the leadership of Cadet Palmisano. Company D was named Honor Company of the year.

The year brought the arrival of Lt. Col. Rex T. Henry as the Professor of Military Science and Tactics and Lt. Col. Donald G. Williams as the Commandant of the College—a one year appointment as this was the last year of the college operation.

The Florida Military School Band continued its tradition of performing before dignitaries, when they performed for President Lyndon B. Johnson in Orlando, where he was giving a speech. Some cadets were privileged to meet the President.

The Senior and Junior National Honor Societies were installed on campus on February 11, 1965.

The 1965 Knight was dedicated to Captain Chaplin A. Dinkins.

Year 10: 1965-1966

The senior class numbered 49, with 243 cadets listed in the yearbook. There were 2 sixth year men: James Gaberle and Robert Mouro. The cadet corps was under the leadership of Cadet Chris Bolton. Company B was named Honor Company of the year.

The year brought the introduction of the Interact Club, the school’s first service club, sponsored by the DeLand Rotary Club. Members were elected on the basis of service, leadership, and interest in their fellow cadets.

The 1966 Knight was dedicated to the memory of Mr. Howard C. Snyder, who was cited as a true friend of the school and the father of Mrs. Mary Ward and Mrs. Marcene Evans.

Year 11: 1966-1967

The senior class numbered 39, with 251 cadets listed in the yearbook. There was one sixth year men: Steve Kinsell. The cadet corps was under the leadership of Cadet Kinsell. Company B was named Honor Company of the year.

Major Pendarvis became the new Commandant of Cadets. Captain Dinkins became the new Assistant Commandant with a promotion to Major. One wag noted, tongue in cheek (it is hoped), that the Class of 1967 got a new Senior Privilege with Major Steely’s departure (for a position at Culver Military Academy in Indiana, where he soon became commandant of cadets at that school).

The 1967 Knight was dedicated to Lt. Col. Rex T. Henry.

Year 12: 1967-1968

The senior class numbered 29, with 200 cadets listed in the yearbook. There was one sixth year man: Tim Tyndall. The cadet corps was under the leadership of Cadet David Moroz. Company C was named Honor Company of the year.

The 1968 Knight was dedicated to Sergeant First Class William W. Douglas for his contributions to the development of the school’s military program as an honor rated ROTC school.