FMA History - Frederick Military Academy Alumni Association

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.
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 Rich Abrams 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.