David Grogan

It would be accurate to say that this man was an outstanding luminary and that his natural abilities served him well. He knew with certainty how he wanted to set priorities in all aspects of his life. He struck those who knew him as the kind of person who awoke in the morning with a clear sense of exactly what he expected from his day and how to set about accomplishing those goals. David was a man who definitely liked order and was most comfortable with an organized and structured lifestyle. When this climate was absent, David would set about immediately to create it.

       His parents were Virgil and Gloria Grogan. Born in Bunkie, La., David was raised in McKinney, Tx. David was brought up to be reasonable in his actions and was taught to use his intellect wisely. He was an honest and straightforward child, traits that reinforced his self-confidence. Even at a young age, David was credited with having a positive influence on those around him.

      The positive atmosphere that David generated spread to his family. David was raised with two siblings. Younger sisters Brenda and Linda. David served as a catalyst within the family. He often found himself in the role of providing fair solutions to those sibling disputes. In every family activity, David was able to demonstrate his uncommon logic and skill at building compromise.

      The work habits and approaches to studying that David utilized in high school also served him well in college. David always seemed on a quest for knowledge. He was able to generalize, summarize and compile information for his classes, employing a matter-of-fact approach. David was intuitive and mentally alert, seemed to crave the challenge of solving complex problems. David received his Masters of Program Management from George Washington University, Washington, D.C.

      As David knew in other aspects of his life, he had a clear vision of what he sought in a relationship and worked hard to achieve it. On October 9, 1987, David exchanged wedding vows with Paula Swanson by a private retired minister in Del City, Okla. Paula was a significant part of his life and it wasn't

necessary for David to be overly sentimental or expressive about it for others to be aware of their mutual devotion and love. David and Paula both felt

that keeping open the lines of communication and really listening was a vital part of their successful marriage.

      Family and children were important to David, even if he didn’t always show it. David was blessed with one son, David F. Grogan, Jr. They were also blessed with one grandchild, Isabella Paige Grogan.

      At work David was viewed as a natural leader. He could marshal all of the available resources, including personnel and materials, in order to meet virtually any objective. He was great at developing strategies and made maximum progress with little wasted effort. David was also adept at uncovering new and more efficient ways of getting things done. He was able to establish and meet objectives and schedules through long range planning and was always able to keep the big picture clearly in sight. Although David might have been described by some as an overachiever, he was without question a dedicated and diligent employee. The quote he will be most remembered for is his "I will take care of it." . He was employed for 34 yrs at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center ,Okla. City, Ok (FAA), retiring as a Supervisory Program Manager.

      David was an Army veteran. Much of David's service was spent in the Philippines as a radar tech. After discharge from the Army, David joined the National Guard. Through his dedication and hard work, he achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant. He received several awards including National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Sharpshooter (Rifle M-14). David's fellow soldiers knew that he worked well within the system, understanding the importance of rules and striving to follow them. David's life approach was all about order but not so strict that he lost sight of the big picture and how best to obtain his goals.

      Not only did David find pleasure in pursuing his various hobbies, he also enjoyed the discovery and research involved in learning about them. His skill at problem solving had a positive influence on these activities as well. His favorite pursuits were fishing, Harley Davidson cycles and working on and restoring old cars. His last endeavor was a 1929 Mercedes Gazel Replica.

      No matter what the activity was, David had the ability to motivate others. This talent influenced his participation in sports, too. He sought out the possibilities in a competitive situation, and he stayed cool and calm under pressure. He relished the stimulation of the action and energy associated with sports. David was very involved in what was referred to as "Bitch Ball" in the late 1970's, earning a "Coach" plaque from his peers in the "Cottonwood Animal Association". He was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed following his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. He liked OU football, OSU football and the Dallas Cowboys.

      David's ability to motivate, direct and organize others made him a valuable asset to the organizations to which he contributed during his lifetime. David was one who could be counted on to work hard to implement goals and required little to begin work on a specific task. Once a project was begun, David had a definite methodology for seeing it through to completion. Throughout his later years, David was a member of the NRA, HOG, NSRA organizations.

      David lived his life guided by a well-defined set of beliefs. His faith and religion were important aspects of those beliefs. Dave had recently started attending St. Andrew's Catholic Church in Moore, Okla. One of his goals was to become more active in the church and to join the organization, The Knights of Columbus. David was looking forward to becoming involved in such an organization in order to pass on the help and hope he had been receiving during his illness.

      There were occasions in David's life where he would find himself involved in a cause or leading an organization and event where his drive to complete the project or meet the established goal was as important as his concern for the philosophy behind it. It was this big picture of the project that kept David focused and on course. It was this kind of commitment and drive that earned him praise and honors throughout his life. Some of his most prestigious awards included Outstanding Service awards through the FAA. One of his favorite awards came early in his career while working in the FAA warehouse. He was responsible for giving tours of the large warehouse and he often referred to it as his "dog and pony show". During the course of his career David also was the recipient of several personal plaques of which he was quite proud. One had him listed as "Godfather" and the other as "Hellfighter", both fairly self explanatory.

The plaques were always displayed with pride in his office. Many officials from various military, federal and private organizations were recipients of David's knowledge and expertise..

      Traveling, especially vacations, was another way for David to apply his exceptional leadership and organizational skills. He liked exploring different places but also enjoyed designing and scheduling the trips in advance. He had real talent for developing the perfect itineraries. David loved going to Las Vegas. He traveled extensively during his career often calling Washington, D.C. his second home. The times that Paula was able to accompany him were special to them both. They were able to travel to Hawaii, New Orleans and Washington, D. C. together.

      David was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. Dave loved all his "kids", always making sure that people knew they were the four legged canine ones. David and Paula always had a houseful of kids running around. Those who gave Dave their love were Karma, Freckles, Axle, Taggart, Colton, Bogie, Bacall, Ripley and Einstein.

      When David's retirement finally came on June 30th, 2012, he was well prepared. He had worked out all the details well in advance and knew exactly what he was going to do. David's big project upon retiring was "The Shop". It encompassed 28 years of ideas and planning. It became a place where he was able to tinker and work on his various projects. Dave also had more time to ride "KITT", his beloved Harley cycle. Always a well-informed person, David enjoyed adding to his wealth of knowledge. Retirement afforded him the time to enjoy that experience and provided one more opportunity to look ahead at what life might offer him.

      David passed away on December 3, 2015, peacefully, quietly and with dignity, surrounded by family at his home in Newcastle, Okla. David fought a hard battle against lung cancer. David is survived by wife Paula, son David and wife Michelle, granddaughter Isabella Paige, sister Brenda, husband Max, sister Linda and many nieces and nephews. Services were held at Sunny Lane Funeral Home, Del City,, Okla. David was laid to rest in Sunny Lane Cemetery in Del City, Okla.

       He could be characterized as a driven individual, someone who understood the importance of achievement. David was decisive and outspoken at times but was also positive and upbeat about most things. He was a leader, both intentionally and sometimes by default. If he saw that something needed to be done, he was always ready to step up and actualize, organize and implement a plan. David became a mentor to quite a few people during his career. He taught these people the value of following through with projects, always keeping everyone focused. Many of these people not only came to know David as a great mentor but they also called him friend. These relationships were the best part of his career, maintaining them even after his retirement.

David will be greatly missed by all. We will take comfort in our memories of him. To paraphrase a friend of his," his legacy may be found to this day at the FAA and in the face of his son and grandchild..No one could ask for a better legacy than that."

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David F. Grogan, born December 18, 1948 in Bunkie, Louisiana passed away December 3, 2015 after a very determined battle with cancer. Retired from his position as a Supervisory Program Manager after 34 years at FAA, he often called Washington, DC his second home. David always accepted problems with his “I will take care of it” motto.

David and Paula became partners on October 9, 1987 beginning a 28 year love story.

Preceded in death by his father, Virgil H. Grogan; mother, Gloria Grogan. Survivors include wife, Paula of the home; son, David, Jr. and wife, Michelle; granddaughter, Isabella Paige of Norman, OK; sister, Brenda Wolfley, husband Max of Midwest City, OK; sister, Linda Sullivan of Bethany, OK; and many nieces and nephews.

Heartfelt thanks goes to all who helped David on this ride. Hey darlin, I’ll see you at the Rainbow Bridge with the kids.