The U.S. Naval Academy of 1966 gathered this weekend at the Waterfront Inn for their annual Florida Come Around. The graduates have been meeting annually in different parts of Florida for twenty-five years; typically they alternate between the coasts. However, there was interest among the group in seeing the Villages, so they are meeting here for the first time. Villages residents Pete Oatis and Jack Drake organized the weekend which included a trolley tour of the Villages, golfing at Arnold Palmer and a dinner Saturday night at the Waterfront Inn with Scooter the DJ for entertainment. That itinerary and being walking distance to Lake Sumter Landing ensured all that attended would have the full Villages experience.
They call their gatherings Come Arounds because that term was used by their senior officers when they were plebes. They would be told to come around, or report to an officer’s room at a certain time, to be assigned tasks.
The class of 1966 started with 1,300 and 860 graduated. They were at the Academy during a very interesting time. It was the era of Vietnam and the Cold War.
Oatis, Drake and Wright all agreed that they appreciated the Academy more after they graduated.
“You are more grateful of the academy experience after the fact. We are all proud of the experience and proud of each other,” said Drake.
“The Waterfront Inn was great to work with,” said Oatis “But ultimately the venue and activities are secondary. This weekend is all about catching-up, getting reacquainted and sharing sea stories.”
