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Chasing an Army Legend at West Point

By Greg Kelly

GKWP1It was a perfect day for football. In fact, perfection was improved upon that day because I got a boat ride and talked to a US Army icon. Just recently I had the great pleasure of visiting the US Military Academy at West Point, New York to see a college football game.

Making the superb trip with me were my brother and sister and we got there thanks to first class service from Seastreak ferry. I highly recommend the excursion. It offers up an exciting and enlightening atmosphere for sports fans of all ages.

The day began with a sublime boat ride from the NJ bayshore to New York—a calm, cool, and colorful morning voyage. All the way north, the outdoor air was brisk and the banks of the Hudson River were awash in stunning Fall colors (with photo opportunities galore).

When we arrived at West Point with a full boat, it looked like the game at the 38,000-seat Michie Stadium was also very well attended. Most impressive to me was the section of cheering US Army cadets, looking sharp in their white hats and shirts, bathed in brilliant sunlight.

I had heard that during Army’s glory years, in the 1940s and 50s, college football ruled supreme as America’s leading fan sport. Back then it was common for national newspapers to run several full pages of news and photos on big college football teams like Army. Now I see why.

In Army’s 50-25 blasting of Eastern Michigan University on October 12, junior running back Terry Baggett rushed for a school record 304 yards and 4 touchdowns (including a 96-yarder). We saw history. It was the first 300-yard rushing game in Army’s 120+ years of football.

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Posted: October 28th, 2013 | Author: | Filed under: Greg Kelly, Greg's List, Seastreak Ferry, Things to do in Monmouth County | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Chasing an Army Legend at West Point

George Hall Buys Dawkins Estate For $12 Million

Photo credit: homesoftherich.net

Photo credit: homesoftherich.net

By Art Gallagher

The Rumson home of Peter and Judi Dawkins, named Long Point, sold yesterday for $12 million, according to a report in the Asbury Park Press.  The 5 bedroom, 9 bath, 6 car garage mansion had been on the market since February 2010 with an original asking price of $29.9 million.

Sources familiar with the transaction told MMM that the new owner is George Hall, founder of the Clinton Group hedge fund and of the Hall Institute of Public Policy – NJ.

One source estimated that the Dawkins lost $10 million on the sale of the home that they built in 2004.

Peter Dawkins,73, a West Point grad and retired Army General, is an investment banker.  He won the Heisman Trophy in 1958 and was the Republican challenger to U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg in 1988.

Dawkins was Vice-Chairman of Bain and Company from 1989 through 1991, leaving around the time that Mitt Romney became CEO of the consulting firm that was in financial distress before Romney turned it around.

Hall, a major Democratic donor, was implicated but not charged in a NY pension fund investigation.  Vice President Joe Biden’s 2008 presidential campaign was fined by the FEC for accepting over the limit contributions and a deeply discounted private jet flight from Hall.

Posted: June 4th, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Rumson | Tags: , , | 11 Comments »