Roland E. "Stormy" Goss was
born in Dallas and graduated from
Forest Avenue High School where
he excelled in sports - receiving All State honors in football during
1938-41 and was nicknamed "Stormy" because of his habit of storming down the field during games. Stormy was honored for his
football talents by being invited to play in the Blue-Grey Senior Bowl game after graduation. Several
N.F.L. teams wanted him to play
professionally, but instead he
joined the Navy following the
Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
He was commissioned as an officer
and assigned as the commander of
three amphibious boats (LCM's)
that participated in the D-Day
invasion at Omaha Beach in
Normandy on June 1944. He was
then assigned to General George
Patton's Third Army to assist in 4
crossings of the Rhine River in
early 1945. After V-E Day, he
returned to Dallas and married his
high school sweetheart, Kay
Goodman. He was called back
into militarily service during the
Korean War and later retired from
the Naval Reserve as a Lieutenant
Commander. He and "Katie" had
three children and after initially
working in the insurance business,
he became a salesman for
AIRSCO, Inc., an industrial hose
company in Dallas. He eventually
became president of the company.
In addition to working and raising
his children, Stormy officiated
high school and college football
games in the Southwest
Conference, including a number
of Bowl games. He was honored
with the "Silver Beaver" award by
the Boy Scouts for his many
contributions to that organization.
Stormy also served as president of
the SMU Lettermen's Association.
He and Katie were faithful
members of Lovers Lane
Methodist Church where Stormy
served as an usher for many years.
Stormy was truly a part of "the
greatest generation" whose
commitment to God, country, and
family set an example for others to
follow and to benefit from. Stormy
Goss is survived by his wife,
Kathryn Goodman Goss and their
three children: Janis Goss Harless
and her husband, Richard, of
Fairfax County, Virginia, David
Goss and his wife, Jan, of Dallas,
and Randy Goss and his wife
Rhonda of Austin and seven
grandchildren. Graveside service
will be 1:30 PM, Friday, October
17, 2008 at Restland Memorial
Park.