Commodore Sydney MaxwellThe First Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. Aries and the man for whom the Maxwell Group was named, Sydney Maxwell left a lasting impression on the hearts and minds of those who served with him.
Captain Sidney R. Maxwell was without a doubt the finest officer whom I ever served with. He was Captain of the Aries when I came onboard but quickly became one of my best friends. He and I had allot in common and that created a bond of friendship that was strong and true. Much like the crew of the Aries has between us all now. He was retired from the military and was a roller skating instructor which was how we met. I learned from Sid that age doesn't have to mean old. He was very young at heart and took pride in his role as Captain of the Aries. He built models of all types and even had some impressive drafting skills that he used to create blue prints of starships that were to scale according to class. He was also very wise and never had a harsh word to say about anyone. He was my Captain and my friend. I only knew him a short few months and served as XO under him for an even shorter period. But I will never forget him nor will anyone who ever knew him. He had such an impact on fandom locally that the Maxwell Squadron was created years ago to honor and continue his legacy. There is also a ship class called the Maxwell class named in his memory. He is also the only Captain in Starfleet ever to be promoted to commodore even after his passing. So you see....he was a very special fun loving friend to all and the finest Captain the Aries has ever had. I was privileged to know him.
Testimonial by VAdm. Mike Wilson |
Colonel Scotty ClineFormerly Marine Commander aboard the Aries, Scotty Cline was a true Gentleman of service, having served as a Colonel in the United States Army.
For my dear friend Scotty Cline. Forever missed but never forgotten. It's to bad that Sidney and Scotty never knew one another. Like Sidney Scotty was young at heart as well. Scotty boasted a very proud military carreer as a Lt. Col in the US Army. He was a tank commander and extremely dedicated Patriot. He volunteered even in retirement to go be part of the gulf war. One of his favorite charities was the wounded warrior program. He had three very wonderful daughters one of which is still a member of our ship, "Erica Cline". Like Sidney he was a regular at the skating rink and that's where I met him some 30 years ago. He was a true gentleman and father figure to many including myself. When I needed advice I could trust I always turned to Scotty. I miss him and his fun loving outlook on life. He had few limits, all I had to do was mention a project and he jumped in with both feet. He gave to many people but most of all he gave me an unmatched friendship that I will cherish forever.
Testimonial by VAdm. Mike Wilson |
Lt. Commander David JonesShip's Historian Lt. Commander David Jones embraced the fun and comraderie that our ship and Starfleet have to offer.
For commander David Jones. David had been an Aries member for many years. For a while we didn't see very much of him but when he returned he seemed interested in aries history and having fun. Our ships commissioning plaque on the Starfleet database was created by him not long before he got sick. One thing stands out I'm my memories of him. When he returned and started coming to functions he many times would begin to show me pictures of our meetings from years past. Durring what I think he considered to be prime time for our ship. I felt like he was trying to remind me of happier times with the finest crew in the fleet. At the time I was really down after having lost so much. Just like all of the Aries crew he just wouldn't give up on me. He kept trying to remind me of happier times. He wanted us to have fun again and that is the best way to honor his memory. Not by the past, but by what we do from here on in. Thank you my Vulcan friend. You are missed.
Testimonial by VAdm. Mike Wilson |
Captain David Allen RobertsA man for whom the meaning of life was caring for those around him, Captain David "DAR" Roberts was our chief engineer, a dear friend, and in many ways the soul of the Aries.
David Allen Robert's "Dar" was a long time member of USS Reprisal and then USS Aries. He lived and breathed star trek and thought of his crew mates as family. He was promoted to Captain after his passing and given the starfleet star by the Cs and also the Dearest blood award. Our engine room will never be the same without him and he will be forever missed by all who knew him. Admiral Wilson. USS Aries.
Testimonial by VAdm. Mike Wilson I will always remember DAR for his generosity and love of spending time with the people that mattered most to him. I never heard him have an unkind word even for those he disagreed with. He loved this ship and this crew and was always eager for the next meeeting, next event, and next adventure. Testimonial by LT. Rick Stubblefield |
Jane Hughes
Beloved wife to Dell Hughes, Jane was Impressively talented, and was a dear friend and a wonderful member of our family and crew.
It has been difficult to put into words the emotions I felt when my beautiful partner in life passed through the veil to be with the spirits of family, friends, and loved furry family, I knew that she would never feel the pains of her illnesses again. She was free.
Jane was a very talented lady. Our senior year of high school, she was a majorette and played clarinet in the school band. I would sometimes ride on the bus with her and the rest of the band. I guess that was our first dates, until I got my car. We dated through college. We would sometimes go out and go target shooting. Jane was a quick learner and could make a tin can hop! There was one incident with a pistol that gave a Mississippi Highway patrolman pause. The college I attended did not allow freshmen to have cars on campus, Jane and my mom would drive me back to college two hours away. The family car was having transmission issues and we would have to stop and put another quart of fluid in. On the trip back they stopped to buy more transmission fluid. When the clerk at the gas station asked if they needed anything else as they started for the door with 6 quarts of fluid ,Jane smiled and said “2 straws”. Out on the road in the dark while my mom poured in transmission fluid, Jane stood guard with my dad’s .45 automatic. Suddenly carlights appeared coming behind them. As the car got closer , Jane turned with the gun in her hands and the car speeded up and flashed passed them. A few moments and headlights appeared coming the other way . As the car approached, roof lights started flashing. Jane lowered the .45 and the Highway Patrol car pulled up. The patrolman came over and asked if everything was alright. My mom explained what they were doing and he helped finish filling the transmission. He told them that he had been the one that passed them moments before, but when he saw Jane with the pistol, he figured Jane and my mom could handle anything coming along ,but to be sure he decided to come back with his lights on so that they would know he was HP.
On December 31st, 1970 Jane and I were married. We ticked-off our Baptist minister when we told him to change the vows to say “until God shall separate you”. We knew that death would not. In 1971 we were sealed for time and all eternity in the Washington, D.C. temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
For the next twenty five years she was with me from duty station to duty station while I was in the military. Until my last duty here in Tennessee where we discovered the theatre. You show Jane a picture of a piece of clothing or an elaborate costume and she would make it. She was Costume Mistress for the Little Theatre of Greeneville and worked for Tusculum theatre group on several of their productions. One of her biggest challenges was the production of “Amadeus”. She had just returned from Mississippi where she was visiting her ill mother. She found out no one had setup for the costumes. She made 90 costumes in 17 days. I helped with what little I knew about sewing; however, she got them done, even though we were hot gluing lace on ballgowns as the actor went on stage.
Her greatest love was to be able to pass along her knowledge to our daughter and grand daughter.
Mimi, as grand daughter Ava called Jane, would show her things about doll clothing just as she did with our daughter, Marja, when she was growing up.
One of her most surprising bit of sewing was making one sixth scale clothing for 12 inch action figures created from a client’s photographs, right down to the socks!
Though her arthritis slowed her, it never stopped her. She would make notes on different costumes when we were watching Star Trek to figure out how best to replicate the outfits. Her mind never paused.
I experienced a wonderful 47 years, 4 months, and 16 days of sharing my life with the most unique and irreplaceable woman I shall ever know.
Testimonial by Dell Hughes
Jane was a very talented lady. Our senior year of high school, she was a majorette and played clarinet in the school band. I would sometimes ride on the bus with her and the rest of the band. I guess that was our first dates, until I got my car. We dated through college. We would sometimes go out and go target shooting. Jane was a quick learner and could make a tin can hop! There was one incident with a pistol that gave a Mississippi Highway patrolman pause. The college I attended did not allow freshmen to have cars on campus, Jane and my mom would drive me back to college two hours away. The family car was having transmission issues and we would have to stop and put another quart of fluid in. On the trip back they stopped to buy more transmission fluid. When the clerk at the gas station asked if they needed anything else as they started for the door with 6 quarts of fluid ,Jane smiled and said “2 straws”. Out on the road in the dark while my mom poured in transmission fluid, Jane stood guard with my dad’s .45 automatic. Suddenly carlights appeared coming behind them. As the car got closer , Jane turned with the gun in her hands and the car speeded up and flashed passed them. A few moments and headlights appeared coming the other way . As the car approached, roof lights started flashing. Jane lowered the .45 and the Highway Patrol car pulled up. The patrolman came over and asked if everything was alright. My mom explained what they were doing and he helped finish filling the transmission. He told them that he had been the one that passed them moments before, but when he saw Jane with the pistol, he figured Jane and my mom could handle anything coming along ,but to be sure he decided to come back with his lights on so that they would know he was HP.
On December 31st, 1970 Jane and I were married. We ticked-off our Baptist minister when we told him to change the vows to say “until God shall separate you”. We knew that death would not. In 1971 we were sealed for time and all eternity in the Washington, D.C. temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
For the next twenty five years she was with me from duty station to duty station while I was in the military. Until my last duty here in Tennessee where we discovered the theatre. You show Jane a picture of a piece of clothing or an elaborate costume and she would make it. She was Costume Mistress for the Little Theatre of Greeneville and worked for Tusculum theatre group on several of their productions. One of her biggest challenges was the production of “Amadeus”. She had just returned from Mississippi where she was visiting her ill mother. She found out no one had setup for the costumes. She made 90 costumes in 17 days. I helped with what little I knew about sewing; however, she got them done, even though we were hot gluing lace on ballgowns as the actor went on stage.
Her greatest love was to be able to pass along her knowledge to our daughter and grand daughter.
Mimi, as grand daughter Ava called Jane, would show her things about doll clothing just as she did with our daughter, Marja, when she was growing up.
One of her most surprising bit of sewing was making one sixth scale clothing for 12 inch action figures created from a client’s photographs, right down to the socks!
Though her arthritis slowed her, it never stopped her. She would make notes on different costumes when we were watching Star Trek to figure out how best to replicate the outfits. Her mind never paused.
I experienced a wonderful 47 years, 4 months, and 16 days of sharing my life with the most unique and irreplaceable woman I shall ever know.
Testimonial by Dell Hughes