Roosevelt Military Academy, Aledo, Illinois, was home for over 3000 cadets from 1931 thru 1973. In 1973 the academy closed, a corn field is now where the football and track team practiced, the academic building has been removed with North Barracks and Niles Hall still standing and nearly on the verge of collapse. The Scarlet and Gray spirit lives on Cadence Count:  Rough Riders Bold and Strong....Building Men All Lifelong.

From the Desk of the Association President

Spring 2012 Update:

Dear Alumni, our website has new links and several members have been engaged in some important work which is designed to draw more Alumni together and enhance the legacy of Roosevelt Military Academy.

To begin with, Mr. Bob Kramer, class of 1965 continues to fine tune the details for our all class reunion which will be on Friday August 17th thru Sunday August 19th, 2012. The reunion will be held at the Holiday Inn Rock Island, 266 17th street, Rock Island Illinois 61201, 309-794-1212. There will be the Friday dinner cruise, campus tour, dedication of the Aledo Armed Forces Memorial with the RMA section, electing new officers, memorabilia display and special events Saturday night. Mr. Mel Bogus, class of 1947, the election Chairman continues to seek nominations for the Association Elections being held Sunday morning August 19th, 2012 and we want candidates and welcome new leaders with fresh ideas. Please into Mel Bogus at mel.bogus@rmaroughriders.org.  Questions? Call Mel at 281-334-0863.

As reported, the Association is engaged in activities that require our members to ‘volunteer’ and provide project leadership. As a key note of interest, we have been contacted by the president of the Chicago chapter of the Theodore Roosevelt Association, Joe Wiegand who has asked to work with an Alumni member on one of the projects we have on our agenda. See the project opportunities and work with others outside the Association and engage in projects with suppliers, vendors, state and other business officials.

Mr. Mike Vagi, class of 1960 has added data to our roster which both updates it with current information on Cadets and Faculty, but also details relationships the Association has with Aledo City Management and other entities. Mike has also launched into expanding the Brick Paver Sales with Mr. Bob Kramer which includes family members of fallen Cadets

Please volunteer to chair and lead an initiative as we have individuals outside the Association who are eager to work with us and our legacy.

Jack Gwynne
President, RMA Rough Association
jack.gwynne@rmaroughriders.org
 

The RMA 2012 All-Class Reunion is Set
 Mark your calendars: August 17-19, 2012

The reunion will be held at the Holiday Inn in Rock Island, IL and will include a visit to Aledo and the old campus.  For those of you who attended the 2010 Reunion we plan on following a similar format which kept the overall cost to attend at a minimum.  Here are the details.  Register today!
 

RMA's "Lost Battalion"

Over the years, we have lost contact with a virtual "battalion" of cadets and we would like you to help us locate them.  Mike Vagi '60 has created a list of cadets, faculty and friends with whom we were in contact at one point, but have lost touch with them.  Take a few minutes to review the names of the "Lost Battalion" to see if there is someone you are in contact with or, perhaps, an old classmate that you would be willing to spend a little time trying to locate.
 

Armed Forces Memorial - Cadets

Aledo has built with the support of the Rough Rider Association a memorial that honors of all the men and women of Mercer County who have served our Country in the Armed Forces or attended RMA.  There is a designated area to honor and recognize former Roosevelt Military Academy cadets.  Click here for full details and how you can participate.

How About a Mini-Reunion
in the Pacific Northwest?

Jim Schweda '60 of Woodburn, Oregon is suggesting a mini-reunion for those "forgotten cadets" who live way out west in Oregon and Washington.  If you would like to participate and/or have some ideas for a Pacific Northwest gathering, please contact Jim at jim.schweda@rmaroughriders.org or 503.784.1784.
 

Rough Riders Down.... It is with sad hearts we list cadets and faculty who have been lost during the past 12 months.   Name    Class Year   Date of Loss Cadet Lawrence E. O’Neal 1954 May 14, 2011 Cadet Robert Feller 1953 June 11, 2011 Cadet William H. Clark 1960 June 20, 2011 Cadet Kirk Jobson 1970 September 27, 2011 Cadet Walter J. Jagiella 1950 October 5, 2011 Cadet Howard Sullivan 1955 November 3, 2011 Cadet Leonard Dierking 1952 November 20, 2011 Cadet Warren D. Myers 1952 December 17, 2011 Cadet David F. Maxwell 1959 April 7, 2012 Cadet Douglas W. Gover 1965 April 10, 2012 Cadet Thomas Turner 1972 April 13, 2012 Cadet William Billingheimer 1959 April 17, 2012   For a full list of Rough Riders who we know have passed, go to TAPS

RMA Quartermaster Store

Whenever a cadet needed to buy uniforms or other RMA-unique items, he would visit the Quartermaster Store in the Administration Building.  Now we have created an online quartermaster to provide RMA memorabilia, merchandise and electronic copies of yearbooks for members of the RMA Rough Riders Association, alumni and friends of RMA.  Visit the new Quartermaster Store today.
 

THEODORE ROOSEVELT
	ROOSEVELT MILITARY ACADEMY is named for Theodore Roosevelt who so ably represents the ideals of American youth.  His magnanimous sprit, commanding personality, alert mind, and abounding physical energy represent our ideals for each cadet who studies at Roosevelt Military Academy.        It is the Purpose of Roosevelt Military Academy to educate boys and aid them in their growth processes.        The Academy strives to develop in each and every cadet qualities of leadership, both academically and socially, that will aid them - not only in a mastery of his formal education - but also in the full development of his physical, social and moral capacities "BUILDERS OF MEN" --from an RMA Catalog published in the late 1960's
Did you know?
In 2001 Theodore Roosevelt was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for leading the famous charge up San Juan Hill during the Spanish American War.  (HQ, Department of the Army General Order No. 28, dated 31 December 2001) Theodore Roosevelt is the only US President to have been awarded the Medal of Honor. Theodore Roosevelt is one of only two fathers and sons who have received the Medal of Honor.  Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. was awarded posthumously for his actions on the Normandy Beaches during D-Day.  (The other father-son team was 1st Lt. (later Lt. Gen.) Arthur MacArthur, Jr. during the Civil War and Gen. Douglas MacArthur during World War II.)

New cadets in 1965 are accepted into the cadet corps after marching through the RMA ceremonial gate See more pictures of Cadet Life.

  Send comments and suggestions for the RMA Rough Rider Association Home Page to
Webmaster Bob Fritz '65