September 8,1958 |
Frederick College
opens as a two - year junior college and a four-year military high school at the renovated military base at 1801 Portsmouth Blvd. (formerly Gosport Rd.) with an enrollment of 265 cadets. |
May 30, 1959 |
The first FMA commencement ceremony. |
September 5, 1961 |
Frederick College
becomes a four year institution and moves to the old General Electric Company grounds, off U.S. route 17 near the Western Branch area of Portsmouth. The high school remained on the original campus and
changed it's name to Frederick Military Academy. |
May 30, 1962 |
First class of four year cadets graduates from the military academy. |
May 1962 |
Medals for Most Outstanding Cadet NCO, awarded to Cadet NCO Mike Ashe. Most Outstanding Cadet Officer was awarded to Battalion Commander Lt. Col.
William "Greene" McCollum. (see related story in the Canteen.) |
May 1968 |
Frederick Liberal Arts College permanently closes. Tidewater Community College opens on the grounds the following Fall. |
July 1, 1968 |
Frederick College Board of Trustees officially dissolved. |
August 2, 1968 |
Peak enrollment of 430 students attained at FMA. |
May 1970 |
42 cadets and a teacher commend then President Richard Nixon on his decision to move troops into Cambodia. |
September 1970 |
Faculty member Lt. Donny Jones sponsors FMA Cheerleader squad lead by Co-Captains Nettie Crodick and Cookie Abee. |
September 1972 |
First African American students accepted into cadet corps. |
September 5, 1975 |
First female allowed to attend school as day class students. |
May 1976 |
Col. Phillip G. Inscoe retires from FMA. |
August 1976 |
William E. Haas replaces the first FMA President, Phillip G. Inscoe. |
June 5, 1977 |
First female cadets graduate from FMA. The three placed first, second and third in their class, ahead of 24 male cadets. |
November 18, 1977 |
The ceremonial
"drumming out"
of a cadet for stealing money from a faculty member conducted by the Cadet Honor Court before the 287 peers of the corps of cadets. |
November 22, 1977 |
Col. William E. Haas, (Lt. Col, Army, ret.) resigns as FMA President. |
February 20, 1978 |
Announcement made that 1963 Frederick College alumnus Donald E. Woodard
would take over as the new President effective April 1, 1978. Woodard had also attended FMA. |
1978 |
New cadet dormitory constructed as part of the phase out of the old WWII military housing units and
hall officers and responsibilities.
Click Here
for a 1995 satelite view of the old FMA grounds. |
August 30, 1979 |
Latin added to Foreign Language department joining French, German and Spanish. |
August 30, 1979 |
First African American instructor hired at FMA. Mrs. Laura Gilliam - Typing. |
August 30, 1979 |
First African American administrator, Arthur Simmons. First female administrator, Gerry Edwards. New commandant, James B. Acker, Jr. New staff uniforms and a full compliment of 300 cadets. |
May 24, 1980 |
Col. Robert C. Plaine announces his retirement
after 21 years of service to FMA. The administration at that time insisted that he and his wife could not remain on campus, even if they purchased their own mobile home. |
November 20, 1980 |
Cadet Robert Perrot was murdered while sneaking off campus to a nearby convenience store. The alleged
local neighborhood individuals that were responsible have never been brought to justice. |
1981 |
Opening of the new student services center, consolidating the services that had previously been scattered across the
campus. |
October 15, 1983 |
FMA celebrates its 25th anniversary. |
April 1, 1985 |
Announcement made to staff that the academy will permanently close in May. Enrollment was down to 198 of the 300
capacity for that school year. |
May 31, 1985 |
Friends of Frederick Foundation, Inc. stages a fund drive to raise 3 million dollars to continue operating the school
indefinitely. When the drive ended June 2nd, the group had raised $100,000. |
June 6, 1985 |
Frederick Military Academy permanently closed. |
December 12, 1986 |
The Pines
residential treatment center opens on the grounds of Frederick Military Academy. |
August 11 & 12, 1995 |
The first FMA reunion held with over 300 Alumni, former faculty and staff in attendance. |
February 15, 1998 |
VA Senate Joint Resolution #204
commemorating the August 8th founding of Frederick Military Academy. |
June 30, 1998 |
The Frederick Military Academy Cadet Alumni Website goes on line. |
July 21, 1998 |
WebSite receives RSAC and Safe Surf "suitable for all ages" rating. Other Family-Friendly ratings followed.
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August 7 & 8, 1998 |
Second reunion held in Norfolk, VA to commemorate 40 years since the opening of FMA. |
September 14, 1998 |
The Frederick Military Academy Website goes on line under its own domain name, www.fma-alumni.org |
September 20, 1998 |
The FMA Mailing List is activated. |
October 6, 1998 |
FMA Website becomes an affiliate member with Barnes & Noble Booksellers to generate residual income for the Alumni
Association through sales. |
October 16, 1998 |
Entire FMA Website receives first major design upgrade. |
November 27, 1998 |
FMA Website receives first official Web Award for content and design. |
November 28, 1988 |
The FMA
Honors and Awards page is added to the website. |
December 9, 1998 |
Complete list of Battalion Commanders
received and posted based on the research of Robert "Doc" and Janette Doerr and Marilyn Rowland. |
December 29, 1998 |
Former Commandant and retired Army Lt. Col.
Robert C. Plaine, U.S.A.R. passed away at his home in PA
at the age of 86 after a long battle of multiple medical problems. |
January 5, 1999 |
Robert C. Plaine Memorial photos
& Eulogy posted to website along with letters from alumni and friends. |
January 29, 1999 |
Robert C. Plaine Memorial page is created and published. |
August 1999 |
FMA
Site Search Engine added. |
May 5, 2000 |
FrederickMilitaryAcademy.org
domain registered and set up as a mirror site to the original FMA-Alumni.org for search engines to locate and catalog this site under both names.
Discontinued May 2004 |
May 15, 2000 |
Second major web design upgrade ending a five month construction period unveiled as FMA 2000. Several new
sections and hundreds of new photographs are added with new original graphics and no advertising banners. (The ultimate goal
being to have no reliance on third party services) |
July 20, 2000 |
FMA Capt. Robert "Doc" Doerr, USNR, passed away in a Norfolk, VA hospital of heart problems at the age of 75. Funeral
services were held in Edenton, NC and Internment in Suffolk, VA on July 24, 2000. Captain Doerr had served on the FMA infirmary staff since 1961. |
January 1, 2001 |
Memorial Page photo pop-up feature completed for cadets and staff linking a photo to the deceased member's name. |
March 28, 2001 |
FMA Website receives recognition as a distinguished military website from www.military.com. |
August 3-4, 2001 |
2001 reunion a smashing success at the Lake Wright. |
May 1, 2002 |
Website receives the prestigious Golden Web Award. |
February 2003 |
Golden Web Award received for second consecutive year. |
May 30, 2003 |
Bill Laakkonon, class of '81, donates the services of his company -
im1.com - for hosting the new FMA Site. |
June 4, 2003 |
FMA Alumni Association registers new domain name of www.fmaalumni.org. Maintenance undertaken by AtHome Web Designs.net to monitor quality and timely updates. |
November 26, 2003 |
Third major revision completed creating two individual web sites. One public and the second, an Alumni only website
requiring access codes. |
August 6-7, 2004 |
2004 Reunion at Holiday Inn Old Towne, Downtown Portsmouth, VA. Boasted 195 attendees on Saturday night and about 175 on
Friday night. One of the more successful reunions, as for the numbers. CLICK HERE
to see the list that came to one or both nights. |
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CLICK HERE
to read a historical document about the history of the Beazley property where Frederick College was established, locally known as Pig Point. Some local historians have indicated that the property was a strategic military area during and after the Civil War. It is currently part of the Federal Super Fund clean up.
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