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Georgia Military College Alumni
Trail the African-America GMC "Bulldog" Experience
Together yet separate, the same yet different for a different group of people, for a whole new glimpse into their world, which led and leads me to what is going on today. These experiences are as heard from the voices of GMC Cadets and Students, from which you normally do not hear. The majority of which were from the states of Georgia, Florida, Alabama and South Carolina, and are now all over the world. There were a few from other states and countries, we will learn as we grow.
First of all, let me be the first and the loudest voice to invite and welcome you here. How do you eat an elephant?
Today, GMC is! Well, certainly, you would think the lesson of color, to determine who is in or out, has been well learned and heeded. Well, these guys I am talking about, amongst other accomplishments, helped to make that lesson, a reality.
Why the African-American Experience?
1. Who cares? GMC was not the only school, but is one of the few schools with a rich history defined by a strict male dominated, military oriented society. GMC underwent a drastic hard fought gender, military and financial transition, all at the same time. This may have been one of the most shameful, most painstaking, needed but not welcome changes GMC has faced - "the last of a dying breed", basically a 360 degree turn around for the Dixieland School. A new era, GMC survived and lives on today.
2. The dark side is probably the least published experience? I am not sure why our documentation is so small and poorly maintained? Was it we failed to document, they failed to document, we failed to follow-up? Was it a race, money or gender thing? Or we just did not make any significant contributions to the growth, the health and welfare of the current day Georgia Military College.
3. Our contributions were real and greatly appreciated at that time, but its’ value has deminished and vanished from the school. There could have been many reasons, especially financially speaking? Further, we sincerely appreciate the contributions and sacrafices of all, but in particular of those who went through all the unnecessary bullshit to help make this tedious but necessary transition possible. Character above all, duty, honor, country; we were the ultimate test for GMC.
4. Due to historical traditions at Georgia Military College during our days, during our times, and especially directed towards African-Americans, GMC was "just one" of those notorious institutions of higher learning, helping to prepare and transition, hard-core youth into young men, into military fighting machines and productive citizens for a more prosperous America. Hidden away, in middle Georgia was one of the finest schools, in America, for doing that.
GMC was an all boys, all male, all man oriented society. We wore uniforms and learned early on to respect and/or quickly earn the respect of school administrators’ and the cadet ranking system. In order to graduate, we learned to work together. Because of our motivation to enjoy whatever it was we had to do, nobody had to tell us, what needed to be done to get the job done. As a matter of fact, in most cases it was just the opposite, you would have to have someone to keep us from over doing the situation, because the job was going to get done. If you did not succeed or got caught, there was a price to pay. Tuition, they really knew how to hit you where it hurt. Above that, for this opportunity you had to apply and be accepted. Someone somewhere would really have to want you there and you had to really want to stay there, to finish it all up.
Anyhow, if you were African-American, it was easier getting through the eye of a needle, than being accepted into one of the most prestigious, men oriented societies and institutions for higher learning in the southeast of America. The opportunity to earn this right, the privilege to join the ranks of this very distinguished team oriented southern society of men, especially suited with discipline, historically was not afforded to African-American males. Just like many other predominately white institutions, you just could not go there. Even though many who passed through the gates of Georgia Military were some of the most courageous and talented men and “women” in America, skin color historically denied you the same opportunity. Has it changed?
Yesterday, as black students experienced GMC? If you do not know the untold history, then just think if nobody ever tells you? A missing a link, disconnect, less opportunity to network, sense of dedication and loyalty; how can you succeed? So what if they just told a few? I am going to step out on a limb and say, GMC Alumni admire and respect other GMC alumni. Are there untold secrets? Should they be told? Who cares? The thing is blacks have missed out on this opportunity because, we were so few and so scattered.
There is a long legacy of men dating back from 1879 to present, with whom you can consult, but how do you find them? To which can you better connect? Though this may not be the current training methods used by GMC today, today’s school would not be what it is today without the experiences of these hardcore men. Further, the name may have change, but the game is still the same. Being prepared helps to increase your chances of success. Had it not been for a few good GMC men and women, I never would have made it.
The legacy of GMC lives all over the world and is easily accessed for those with money, because your family had to be able to afford your educational experience. Yes, during some of the most difficult financial times in America, especially for African-Americans, your family had to pay dearly for your opportunity to be accepted and attend GMC, a private High School and Junior College.
My goal is to provide a hub for sharing some of those experiences.
Because we happened to be black and feeling we wanted an experience not normally afforded to young black men, there was an extra price to be paid, that only black students can tell you about. These experiences happened to all of us but above and beyond those experiences, there were experiences and victims, just due to racial ignorance. Because of the way the American society established itself, No matter what a black man does in America, he will always be subject, to some extent, to some of these unique only to black people experiences. See it is starting to get funny already.
You know it is hard to find a good black man. They don’t wanna work, their lazy,,,Most of our black males are being incarcerated. They are selling or using drugs! They are not civil, loud music, cars, guns, alcohol. They are whore-mongers…Our black men do not take care of their families…A list of a whole bunch of things black males, as a whole, as a group fail to do. They are inferior to the good of anything. They do not communicate? Now, do you understand why? As African-American males, we know the story.
So here is a new American foundation, started by a group of black men, representing a new society of men, from which you very seldom hear and we invite all to share.
What are we going to do? First, we are going to increase communications and I am suggesting this website to be our one-stop-shopping for this list of men. Integrity has to be maintained. There are other lists with inaccurate and incomplete information, pretty much do to lack of contact.
Though this is a dream of mine, I do not desire for this be a selfish dream and goal. We must organize, We must pay to play and somebody has to be the leader. Now, I would like to work with our website, responsible for maintaining our list of people – name, years attended, email, telephone and other information crucial to be added to this unique list of distinguished students. I say that because we do not know what’s going on with each other yet, I am sure there will be some shooting bad and some shooting good, but you will know what you are working with.
$25 dollars a year, is this list worth it? Though it will be free to get on this list, I only think it to be in our best interest to know in advance what I would need to charge. If you can donate, do it; if not I can be the first to understand. Know that you have already paid and earned the distinct privilege of being on this list and when it benefits you; please do not forget to donate.
Along my trail in life, during some of my most memorable trials and tribulations, I have often thought on you guys until the thoughts just disappeared. Finally, you think we no longer exist. I was not looking for the school’s annual, but for some of the names and addresses of a few dedicated and loyal fellow students who help me and I help them. I did not know if you were interested in working together, re-establishing contact, figuring out better ways to help us help ourselves. Here you will have your audience and here is the first step to making that change. You will know that everybody on this list wants to be here, for the same reasons that you want to be here, for the same reasons you went to GMC. You will know.
your inner voice.com
Cadre
Gen. Salet, School President
Col. Bell, Professor Military Science
Sgt. Thomas Instructor/Armorer
Inez Hawkins Instructor
Grady Torrance Instructor
Maj. Heyman English/Literature Instructor
Mrs. Stembridge Math Instructor
Maj. Claude Abate Military Instructor/Coach
Cpt. Bell
Vanderbilt Edwards 1969 – 1976, HS 73, JC 75, Atlanta, GA Email Bill
Willie Hence
Charles Love, JC 75, Columbus, GA, Email: Email Charles
Chris Short
Lonnie Clemons, Jr.,JC 76, Milledgeville, GA, Email: Email Lonnie
Henry Davies
Charles Foster
David Kilgore, JC 76, Atlanta, Georgia Email David
Terrell Johnson JC 76, Clayton, County, Email Terrell, Moe Joes’s, Riverdale Georgia.
Barry Lewis
Lisa
"Pretty Boy" Mitchell
Johnny Pierce
Rico JC 76, Atlanta, Georgia Email Ron
Joann Shinholster
Andrew Slaughter
Arthur “Ross” Thomas 1969 – 1976, HS 74, JC 76, Milledgeville, Georgia, 478-452-2597, email Email Art, Website: www.your-inner-voice.com
Edward Walker
Barry Washington
"Skeeter Boy" Wesley
Vince Edwards
