Alumni Magazine

Before Nathaniel Mary Quinn’s work graced the walls of the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City, the Art Institute of Chicago and other distinguished museums around the world, before his work was in demand by art collectors and celebrities, before Mick Jagger asked him to design the cover for the latest Rolling Stones album, his Culver Academies family recognized his potential and talent.

On Sept. 11, 2001, a sunny, clear Tuesday morning with bright blue skies turned into one of the darkest days in American history when 19 terrorists hijacked four airplanes, killing close to 3,000 people. At 8:46 a.m., American Airlines Flight 11 struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center followed 17 minutes later by United Airlines Flight 175 hitting the South Tower. The nation was under attack. 

Culver Military Academy track fans in 1922 could hardly imagine a greater moment than watching future Olympian William “Beef” Richardson 1922 likely become the first American high school athlete to break the two-minute half-mile barrier shortly after running a 51.4 in the 440, both believed to be national records, in a triangular telegraphic meet with Kemper Military Institute in Tennessee and Shattuck Military Academy.