Roland Elsworth Goss' Obituary
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.
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