Download

Download Full Text (47 KB)

Obituary

Bob "Rigger" Snyder, 88, died January 4, 2014, in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. He was born August 31, 1925 in Easton, PA. During World War II, he served in the Merchant Marine as a seaman on a "Liberty" ship and manned a 20mm anti-aircraft gun during the invasion of France. Upon returning from the War, Bob worked as an ironworker, erecting high steel buildings. The best way to learn high steel work is to start at the ground level and work up. "If you're not comfortable by the 4 or 5th floor, find another line of work." He was hired at Cave Junction in 1948. After jumping out of Cave Junction between 1948 and 1951, Bob's knees were "pretty much busted up." He searched for new employment opportunities and became Superintendent of the Garage and Pit Area of Pocono International Raceway. Ultimately, Bob became the Director of Security for the International Hot Rod Association. In addition to the above positions, Bob was elected Vice President of the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers Union and was President of the Pocono Karters, Inc., a Go-Kart racing organization. Bob learned a strong sense of independence and self-judgment from his years as a smokejumper - "You have to develop a plan quickly and, if it doesn't work, come up with Plan B." Rigger was proud to be a "Gobi" jumper and was a great financial supporter of the Siskiyou Smokejumper Museum project that saved the base from destruction.

Identifier

Snyder_Robert-A-Rigger_Cave-Junction_1948

Publication Date

January 2014

Keywords

Smokejumping; Smokejumpers -- United States; National Smokejumper Association; Wildfire fighters; Obituaries

Disciplines

Forest Management

Smokejumper Obituary: Snyder, Robert A.

Search based on Keywords

Smokejumping

Smokejumpers -- United States

National Smokejumper Association

Wildfire fighters

Obituaries

Share

COinS