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Stan Stehwien, CEO of the Gunnison Lakeside Resort, Gunnison, Colo., attended Ponca Military Academy, beginning in 1963 until graduating in 1968. The disciplines and friendships gained at PMA helped Stan along the way to a successful life.
Here is his story in his own words.
After graduation from PMA I attended Adams State College in Alamosa, Colo., for a short time. In 1969, I decided college life was not for me, married my wife, Pat, and went to work for RC Bottling Company in Alamosa.
In 1970, I was hired by Mountain Bell as a "combinationman" (installation and repair technician). For the next 10 years I worked in and around Alamosa as a "telephone man."
I was offered and accepted a promotion to supervisor in 1980. For the next 20 years I held several positions with Mountain Bell, which became US West in 1984 in southern Colorado. I was exchange manager, central office switching manager, business office manager and cable repair manager.
By 2000, I found myself eligible for early retirement and ready for a change. I took early out, Pat sold her H&R Block office and we bought an RV Park in Gunnison, Colo., next to Blue Mesa Reservoir, the largest lake in Colorado.
Gunnison Lakeside Resort is a 100 space full service RV Park on 60 acres in the Curecanti National Recreation Area. Currently I am president and CEO of Gunnison Lakeside Resort Inc. I also clean the toilets and take out the trash.
Pat and I have been married 40 years, we have two grown children and three grandchildren.
Reflections on PMA

Stan continues describing his five years at PMA.
Like many of the PMA cadets of my time I came from a broken home. My parents were separated and I lived with my father, a career Army officer until his death in 1962. I attended 12 different schools during my first seven grades. My mother was incapable of raising an adolescent boy and I was shipped off to military school. My mother too, passed away while I was at PMA.
Like most of the cadets and any teenage boy, I complained about the restrictions of military school and couldn't wait to get out, but I remember on graduation day feeling an almost overwhelming sadness because I was leaving friends who had become my family, my brothers. I was leaving home. I had been at PMA longer than I had lived in any other single place.
I think of Captain Self every time I watch a football game, Captain Moore every time I look at the stock market, Major Moore whenever I am writing and I thank the Lord for Major Cubbage any time I have a math problem and don't have a calculator.
I believe my time at Ponca Military Academy was one of the good times of my life, I believe the staff were positive influence.
Some of the Cadets
I remember
Some of my closest friends were Tim Cavener, Barry Rowe, Bill Norris, Steve Hundley, Bill Duncan, Ron Rose (Isenberg) and Phil Kirby.
I have copies of some of the PMA Chatters and can remember everybody if I thumb through them.
P.S. Stan says he hasn't been able to attend PMA reunions held here in Ponca City, because they are held at a time when the resort is in its busy season.