The West Point Society of Greater Houston welcomes you to the 2025 Founder’s Day Gala celebrating the 223rd anniversary of the U.S. Military Academy’s founding in 1802. As one of the largest of more than 120 West Point Societies around the world and a perennial Distinguished Society, the WPSGH is excited to announce that the West Point Commandant of Cadets Brig. Gen. R.J. Garcia will be the keynote speaker along with our “Oldest” and “Youngest” Grads.
Join us for a night of comradery, socializing, networking, fundraising, and a learning a little more as to how the corps has!
West Point Commandant of Cadets
Brig. Gen. R.J. Garcia graduated from the U. S. Military Academy at West Point in 1996. Upon graduation, he was commissioned into the Aviation Branch and served in various locations and duty positions in the U.S. and overseas. These include duties with 2nd Infantry Division: Republic of Korea, 4th Infantry and 1st Cavalry Divisions: Fort Cavazos, Texas, 3rd Infantry Division: Fort Stewart, Ga., U.S. Army Human Resources Command, U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence, U. S. Military Academy; 1st Armored Division: Fort Bliss, Texas, Headquarters Department of the Army; 25th Infantry Division: Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command: Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii. Garcia most recently served as the Deputy Commander (Support) with the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Military Academy, a Master of Science degree from Kansas State University, and a Master of Strategic Studies degree from the U.S. Army War College. His military education includes the Initial Entry Rotary Wing Aviator Course, Aviation Officer Basic Course, Aviation Officer Advanced Course, Army Command and General Staff College, U.S. Army War College, and AH-64A and AH-64D Aircraft Qualification Courses.
Garcia is a Senior Army Aviator who has earned the Combat Action Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the Army Staff Badge, and various awards and decorations commensurate with his positions of responsibility and time in service. In addition to his military decorations, he has been inducted into the Army Aviation Association of America Order of St. Michael (Silver) for his contributions and service to the Army Aviation Branch.
He is married to the former Elizabeth Trevino, and they are the proud parents of a son and daughter.
Hotel Zaza Phantom Ballroom
This year we are excited to be hosting the Founders Day Gala at Hotel Zaza in Houston’s Museum District. Table assignments have not started yet, we will post table assignments here starting in February.
Silent Auction
Donated by Emory Pylant. ‘65
General Purpose Camping/Field Knife
Suggested Value $400
3 3/4” Damascus Blade - 5160, Ni200 steels
Axis deer antler handle. Axis and Sambar stag material are much more dense and unifrom than most other antler types.
Nickel silver hilt and pins.
Bison leather sheath for right handed carry. (Can make an alternate sheath for left hand carry if desired.)
To place your bid prior to the event please email: ehlopak@comcast.net
We will update each items once bidding has started.
Donated by Emory Pylant. ‘65
Small General Purpose Camping/Field Knife
Suggested Value $400
3 1/4” Stainless 440C drop point blade.
Mammoth tusk handle. Suggest this material be soaked in Johnson baby oil a couple times annually. I use daylight savings time changes as a reminder. Dishwashers are not recommended…
Stainless steel hilt and pins.
Bison leather sheath for right handed carry. (Can make alternate sheath for left hand carry if desired.) Included tropical hardwood stand for handy use around the kitchen.
More details and a statement from Emory Pylant:
All my () knives are hand ground from knife quality steel stock. I never use knife kits which almost always feature blades that are produced in India, Philippines, China, ect. Too many ‘kit knives’ are represented as custom knives…
My stainless steels are usually ATS34 from Japan, 154CM (the US verson of ATS34) and 440C. After grinding, I have these commercially hardened and temered to an RC hardness of 58-60.
Damascus stock is from Alabama Damascus made in Jacksonville, AL. I heat treat and temper these myself. They also test to an RC hardness of 58-60.
Handles are usually from elk or axis deer antler; tropical hard woods such as ebony, rose wood, desert ironwood; fossilized mammoth and walrus; and buffalo horn.
If someone wants a left handed sheath, Ill need the knife to fit the sheath as they are all “custom”. I can usually do that in a couple of days. I’ll keep the right handed sheath and in the future will probably craft a knife to fit the sheath.
I usually use Cape Buffalo or Water Buffalo for sheaths.
- Emory Pylant ‘65 COL (Ret)
To place your bid prior to the event please email: ehlopak@comcast.net
We will update each items once bidding has started.
Donated by Trevor roe of shadow systems
mr920 elite (ss-1009)
Suggested Value $1200
The MR920 is a feature-packed, compact-sized pistol that is designed to work with existing G19 holsters, magazines, and gear.
The MR920’s frame features configurable ergonomics. Interchangeable backstraps allow shooters to adjust the grip angle to fit their natural point of aim. An extended beavertail and aggressive trigger guard undercut work to dramatically reduce recoil and increase controllability. The frame’s wrap-around grip texture is aggressive enough to keep the gun firmly in the shooter’s grip without being uncomfortable for daily wear.
The MR920 slide has a thinned profile at grasping locations and directional serrations in the front and rear (as well as topside on some models) for easy manipulation under stress.
The match-grade barrel is conventionally rifled and spiral-fluted to improve evacuation of debris. MR920s are also available with threaded barrels, for those departments that allow the use of muzzle devices.
The drop-safe, flat-faced aluminum trigger has a 4.5-5.0 lbs trigger pull and a crisp, tactile reset. Optic cut models allow shooters to mount the mini red dot optic of their choosing. The optic cut on the MR920 can accommodate most major brands of RDS optics directly mounted to the slide, without intervening plates or adapters.*
To place your bid prior to the event please email: ehlopak@comcast.net
We will update each items once bidding has started.
Donated by Jason whiteley ‘99 and Emily Armenta
Earrings
Suggested Value $960
To place your bid prior to the event please email: ehlopak@comcast.net
We will update each items once bidding has started.
Donated by Rob Mueller ‘89
Round of Golf for 4 Lakeside country club
Suggested Value $1000
Lakeside Country Club
100 Wilcrest Drive
Houston, TX 77042
To place your bid prior to the event please email: ehlopak@comcast.net
We will update each items once bidding has started.
Donated by Hotel zaza
1 night stay at hotel zaza in one of twenty themed suites
Suggested Value $2000
To place your bid prior to the event please email: ehlopak@comcast.net
We will update each items once bidding has started.
Donated by Dick Graf, ‘71
2 bottles of wine (separate bids for each bottle)
Suggested Value $150 each
Chateau Pavie Macquin – Saint Emilion: Premier Grand Cru Classe, 2018
Expert tasting note: (2018 vintage) "The wine is a darkly pigmented, medium ruby-red color. The ripe fruit aromas are open, leafy & fresh. The palate displays attractive, open, ripe red-fruits that are lifted by fresh acidity & show delicate leafy touches. The alcohol adds warmth to the ripe fruit on the mid-palate. Cedary oak shows on the finish where it combines with fresh red-cherry fruit."
Chateau Smith Daut Lafite – Grand Cru Classe De Graves, 2006
Expert tasting note: (2006 vintage) "A developed wine, classic Cabernet nose, fresh aromatic aromas of wood, blackcurrant and redcurrant , the palate is still firm and classic, possibly needs some more time to mellow but was great with the lamb."
To place your bid prior to the event please email: ehlopak@comcast.net
We will update each items once bidding has started.
Donated by Dave Yatto, ‘76
Washington’s watch chain print by mort kunstler
Suggested Value $225
"The story of the chain is a fascinating one. During the Revolution, the British ruled the seas. The English with their Hessian allies, occupied Long Island and New York City. The Continentals held New England, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. If the British could sail up the Hudson from New York City and connect with their forces in Canada, they would essentially be able to cut the United States in half. Washington endorsed a scheme that would string a giant chain across the river, resting on pine floats. The entire system of chain and floats had to be removed before the river froze over and then put back in the spring. If frozen into the Hudson, the chain would have been destroyed by the ice. That is the moment I chose to depict.
To place your bid prior to the event please email: ehlopak@comcast.net
We will update each items once bidding has started.