Farewell to a Friend
I just got news last night that my friend Rodger Holmstrom passed away.
I first met Rodger while I was working for Raytheon Aerospace in Selma, Alabama. Rodger was the FAA Safety Program Manager for the Birmingham FSDO. After I joined AMT, a friend of mine called me and said that Rodger had this new presentation that he was doing at IA seminars in the Alabama region that was really great. The presentation was called “Eye Opener.” In it, Rodger discussed accidents and incidents where well-meaning mechanics were the cause the accident. Throughout the presentation, Rodger would say to the mechanics, “you don’t know what you don’t know.”
I had to see this presentation for myself. I flew down to Mobile, Alabama and sat in on a seminar as Rodger gave his presentation to a room full of mechanics and IAs. I was so inspired by the presentation I wrote an article about it called “Eye Opener” and it appeared in the August 2001 issue of the magazine. You can click here to read that article (and I would encourage every mechanic to do so, because we often don’t know what we don’t know).
After the seminar, I invited Rodger to dinner. We had some burgers and a couple of beers and talked for about two hours. Rodger shared his thoughts about the industry and about life in the FAA. That’s where I first heard about the saying, “I’m with the FAA. We’re not happy until you’re not happy.”
Well, that was the beginning of a great friendship. I would call Rodger if I had a question about FAA regulations. If a reader would write in with a question, afraid to approach the local FSDO because of possible retribution, I would ask Rodger for his thoughts on the matter. Rodger would also give me editorial ideas. I even talked him into writing an article for us.
Rodger retired a few years ago. Yet, he did not equate retirement to doing nothing. He stayed active. He called me often to share ideas and insight. He was active in the AMTonline.com forum, answering questions from readers and getting mechanics to think about the regulations.
Rodger, we will miss you. You were a great friend to the magazine and to the readers of AMT. May you find peace and happiness turning wrenches for the Big Guy upstairs.
Your friend,
Joe Escobar
Its difficult to know what to say, but I’d like to note that Roger’s voluntary efforts to provide traising seminars for IAs and pilots in our area before he retired was very much appreciated. I have really missed them. I suppose his legacy for many of us will always be that he was an FAA employee that obviously did things from the heart, even though it must have been a frustrating thing to do. My condolences to his friends and family.
We need more people in the FAA like Roger. A man who delt with the job and the people in it. I never met him, but I read many of the articles that he was involved with. So it is hoped that he has received his just rewards.So, may God bless him.
I never met Mr. Rodger Holmstrom, but he gave me His” Word’S of WISDOM” on dealing with People in the Aviation World. I will miss his Wisdom Emails.My Condolences to his Family. LORD HE’S IN YOUR HANDS NOW TAKE CARE OF HIM LIKE HE DID FOR US.
I did meet Rodge, in fact he was/is my brother. I want to thank all of you for your kind thoughts and prayers
Rodger HOlmstrom was/is my parternal grandfather. Thank you for your kind words.