SPINAX REUNION 2001   Over a year's worth of planning came to an end on October 1st when the first of 78 former Spinax shipmates, together with wives and friends, began the check in process at the Atlantis Hotel in Reno. The Spinax Good Sports were gathering for the second time to celebrate the 23 year history of the finest diesel boat that ever was in Uncle's fleet. Check in was held in the hotel lobby at a table manned by planning group members, reunion COBs and wives. After verifying personal information, each attendee was presented with a schedule of events and a special name tag printed on a photo of the ship configuration (SSR or SS) matching his time on board. A hospitality room, funded by the three attending former skippers (Jay Davis, Jack O'Connell and Bud Hankins) was open and served as the place to renew old aquaintences on the first day. Reunion and other memorabilia were on display in the room. Day Two opened with a morning all hands get together in the meeting room. The three COs were introduced followed by individual introductions of all the attendees. A special presentation of ball caps and 38D 8 1/8 tech manuals from the Fairbanks Morse company was made to all members of the Main Power Mafia by Jay Davis. The schedule of events was reviewed and then the group broke up for lunch.The ladies attended a special lunch at which the CO's praised them for their long-time and continuing support. The afternoon session had been set aside specifically for shipmates the 40s and 50s, but everyone attended and continued renewing friendships. The room started out being decorated with an American flag, some personal photos of shipmates and shipboard events and a reunion banner containing the three ships patches developed during her lifetime. Newspapers/cartoons from Larry Hand/Pecos Larsen from the mid 60s along with other memorabilia were added to fill the walls. As the day progressed, several tables were added to the back of the room and were quickly covered by personal items brought by crew members. The bell, commissioning plaque and a St. Christopher medal presented as a gift from the ship's commissioning sponsor, all obtained from the Bremerton Naval Museum, were promenantly displayed as was the ship's stern plane wheel. The hospitality room was open over the noon hour and again in the evening. Day Three's morning and afternoon were filled by a show of slides contributed by several shipmates. Photo subjects ranged from shipboard activities to port calls (including many photos of librarians and dance instructors). Over the noon hour break, the hospitality room was open again. The closing event of the reunion was the evening banquet where we dined from an elegant buffet. At the start of the evening, the three attending skippers were gonged aboard using the ships bell. Pictures were taken for the assembly of a photo book that will record the evening's events. As the evening progressed, shipmates were recognized for specific accomplishments. These included those achieving Senior and Master Chief rates and commissioned rank. Awards (a specially designed reunion coffee cup) were presented to attending shipmates for the following: Bud Wiarda (the tallest), Manny Solanoy (the shortest), Bob 'Pappy' White (the lightest), Joe Averi (the heaviest), Mike Luikart (the youngest), George Hamilton (the oldest), Jack Hunter (came the farthest), Jack 'Bubba' Smith (most hair), Joe Luallen (least hair), earliest crew member (George Hamilton - plank owner), and Gene Williams (last to leave the ship). A special award was presented to Robert 'Pecos' Larsen by Jay Davis for his work in setting up and maintaining the Spinax website. Pecos was presented with the newest Navy rating - that of Master Chief Web Master MCWM (SS). The three COs made brief remarks highlighting the continuing evidence of the "Spinax attitude", the support of the wives and the everlasting bond between every Spinax crewmwmber.The reunion was closed by Dick Phillips reading the names of shipmates on eternal patrol while Bob 'Gunner' Tift tolled the ships bell. The Reunion Planning Group (Jay Davis, Jack Hunter, Jack O'Connell, 'Pecos' Larsen, Jim 'Nellie' Nelson and Dick Phillips) would like to thank all of you who came to share good times with other shipmates, those who could not attend but contributed letters and memorabilia,those who made additional contributions to support reunion expenses and the Reunion COBs who helped when and wherever needed. All of you made this get together a resounding success. We look forward to seeing you at the next reunion and are standing by to pass the planning torch to the next group of volunteers. If you are interested in forming a planning group, please contact Jay Davis. Jack Hunter