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A Brief History of the United States Naval Academy

1950's

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Midshipmen's Mess Hall, 1952


Class of 1952 Honor Graduates


Engineering Drawing, 1956


Climbing Herndon Monument, 1958


Plebe Getting Haircut, 1958

 

 

 

April 28, 1950

Vice Admiral Harry W. Hill becomes superintendent.

September 2-4, 1950

First open house held for parents of plebes -- origin of Plebe-Parents Weekend.

November 21, 1951

The Postgraduate School moves from Annapolis to Monterey, California.

1952

Navy 8-oared crew win gold medal at Olympic Games in Helsinki, Finland, and are National Intercollegiate Champions.

August 4, 1952

Vice Admiral C. Turner Joy becomes superintendent.

1954

Tradition of mandatory Sunday afternoon "tea fights" resumes.

August 12, 1954

Rear Admiral Walter F. Boone becomes superintendent.

1955

Tradition of greasing Herndon Monument for plebe climb to exchange plebe hat for midshipman's is started. This signals the start of graduation events.

March 15, 1956

Rear Admiral William R. Smedberg, III becomes superintendent.

1957

Academy's first field house, later named for Fleet Admiral William F. Halsey, is completed.

June 27, 1958

Rear Admiral Charles L. Melson becomes superintendent.

September 26, 1959

The Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium is dedicated. There are dedicatory letters from President Eisenhower, Vice-President Nixon, Secretary of Defense McElroy, Secretary of the Navy Franke, Chief of Naval Operations Arleigh Burke, Commandant of the Marine Corps R. McC. Pate, and Naval Academy Superintendent C. L. Melson. Neil McElroy's letter is headed "Non Sibi Sed Patriae," words that are inscribed over the doors of the chapel. He cites "the spirit of Annapolis where service is 'Not for self, but for country.'"


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