Dennis Pate has been an attorney for the past 25 years, licensed to practice in Michigan and California. He and his wife Linda reside in Howell, having returned to Michigan to retire in 2018 from San Diego, CA. where Dennis was a Partner in a Workers Compensation Law defense firm.
Prior to becoming an attorney, Dennis served 20 years in the U.S. Army as an Air Defense Artillery Officer, specializing in antiaircraft missiles, guns, and radars, as well as national intelligence matters, serving in Korea, Germany, Africa, and numerous posts in the U.S. He has degrees from Eastern Michigan University, the Naval Postgraduate School, and California Western School of Law. Dennis also serves on the Executive Board for Great Lakes Division, Michigan Crossroads Counsel of the Boy Scouts of America, and is a member of American Legion Post 141 in Howell, MI. He is a member of the Livingston County Bar.
John Korneder Vice Chairman
Meet the Board
James L. Gurney III
Jim is retired from the Department of the Navy after 34 years of military and civilian service. He and his wife, Kathleen, reside in Howell having returned to Michigan following retirement in 2011.
Jim enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served in the Submarine Force for six years. Subsequent to Submarine School, Jim completed two years of Nuclear Power School and qualified as a Reactor Operator and Engineering Watch Supervisor on the USS Sturgeon (SSN-637), a nuclear fast attack submarine. Jim completed two Mediterranean deployments, two Arctic Circle deployments and one Western Pacific (WestPac) deployment. During one of the Arctic deployments his submarine ran submerged under the ice pack, broke through the ice and surfaced at the north pole. The submarine Jim served on performed anti-submarine warfare operations in oceans and seas worldwide and became one of the few submarines qualified to support Marine Recon operations. He obtained the enlisted rate of Machinist Mate 1st Class, Submarine Qualified (E-6).
Following active duty, Jim worked as a civilian employee for the Department of the Navy. He was a Nuclear Engineer and supervised and directed the refueling of submarine nuclear reactors. He ultimately became a Project Engineer and was responsible for the repair, overhaul and maintenance of nuclear powered submarines in both the Atlantic and Pacific operating areas.
Jim attended Eastern Michigan University and The South Carolina Military College (The Citadel). He is a Past President of the Scottish Society of Charleston, South Carolina and has served as Regional Commissioner for Clan Donald, USA. Jim is a member of American Legion Post 235 in Brighton and is honored to serve as a member of the Post Honor Guard.
Former Board Members
Ricci Bandkau – Rest in Peace
Ricci passed away on the morning of Christmas Eve, 2015, after a short illness. She was the City of Brighton Liaison on the Brighton Veterans Memorial Board. Ricci was at the forefront of initiating the new BVM Committee for the building and maintenance of the new Memorial. She served as the BVMC Secretary.
Ralph W. Bidwell, Jr.
Bryan Bradford
Scott Brauer
Ken Frasheski
Dennis Nauss
Alvin Groff
Bill Rubin
Joe Riker
Bryant Lepic
Bill Rubin
Rich Savale
Honorary Board Members
Lt. Col. Ron Warmbier (Passed away January 2018 RIP)
Ken Frasheski
Alvin Groff
Bill Rubin
Rich Savale
Doug Del Favero
The Brighton Veteran's Memorial Committee (BVMC) is accepting applications for future openings on our committee. You must be an honorably discharged veteran and fill out an application and provide a DD-214 to be considered. If you would like an application send an email to info@brightonveteransmemorial.info
Doug served in the U.S. Navy from September 1959 to September 1963. He was assigned to the Attack Air Craft Carrier USS Ticonderoga CVA 14 after boot camp. He did 3 Far East cruises to the South China Sea between January 1960 and July 1963 where the ships planes flew over Vietnam. He joined the Hamburg VFW Post 1224 in 1999 where he served as Junior Vice Commander, Senior Vice Commander and Chaplain. He was a member there until they closed its doors. He is currently a member of Brighton VFW Post 4357..
Colonel John H Korneder, USMC, (ret). John is married to Major Toni G Korneder, USMC, (ret) and their family consists of 4 children and nine grandchildren. He began his career as a Forward Observer with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion 4th Marines in Vietnam. John enjoyed a variety of command and staff assignments in his 30 years in the Marines. He is a graduate of Amphibious Warfare School, Marine Corps Command and Staff College and the National Defense College of India. Upon his retirement, he taught English as a Second Language at Tacoma Community College and subsequently spent 18 months in Kabul, Afghanistan as a military contractor/ advisor to the Ministry of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics. John has been an advocate of veterans through his membership in the ESGR (Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve), a member of the Marine Support Group (Seattle Washington), a volunteer driver for disabled veterans and a volunteer worker at Young Life Family Camps for Military Families.
Jon Emaus Brighton City Liaison
Brighton City Councilman and City of Brighton Veterans Memorial Board Member Liaison
Jon Emaus joined the Brighton City Council in June 2016. He has been a resident of Livingston County for ten years and a resident of the city of Brighton since November 2013. In addition to volunteering for the Livingston County Veterans Treatment Foundation, he a member of the Sons of the American Legion and is a vocal advocate and active donor for the American Red Cross.
Jon received his undergraduate degree in Political Science and Economics from the University of Michigan and his Juris Doctor from Wayne State University Law School. He has served both public and private Boards for over ten years and currently owns a law practice specializing in business law and corporate compliance. In addition to his business clients, Jon provides assistance to troubled youth and families as a court-appointed attorney in the Livingston County Family and Juvenile Court.
Dennis W. Pate, Secretary
Steve Conaway Chairman
Steve has lived in Hamburg Township since 1997 with his wife Martie. They have 3 children and 2 granddaughters. Steve enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1968 and became a fully qualified Air Traffic Controller at the age of 19 as a radar approach controller. Steve went to Vietnam in 1969 and was assigned to DaNang Air Base and then Tuy Hoa Air Base. He returned home in 1970 and was assigned to Selfridge ANG Base for the remainder of his enlistment as a Staff Sergeant. Hired by the FAA Steve was an Air Traffic Controller at Detroit City Airport, Akron Canton Regional Airport, Port Columbus (Columbus Ohio) and Detroit Metro Airport. He has been self employed for the past 36 years and is now retired. Steve served the Brighton Veterans Memorial Committee as a volunteer prior to him becoming a member of the board. Steve is currently Commander of VFW Post 4357 and Senior Vice Commander of American Legion Post 235 in Brighton.