The late Roger Thompson of Holland left his mark on the Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES (E2CCB) Ormsby Educational Center in a big way, working tirelessly to enhance the Automotive Technology Program located there and positioning his students for success after graduation.

Nearly a year after Thompson’s death, faculty and staff at both the Ormsby Center in East Aurora and the Holland Central School District are keeping his name and legacy alive with the Roger Thompson Memorial Award, which will be given annually to an outstanding high school senior enrolled in the Automotive Technology Program at the Ormsby Center.

During the Ormsby Center’s Senior Recognition Day ceremony on June 10, which is held every year to recognize graduating seniors enrolled in E2CCB Career & Technical Education programs, the inaugural Roger Thompson Memorial Award was presented to Raymond Skibicki of Iroquois High School. Raymond completed his studies at the Ormsby Center under the tutelage of Charles Facklam, who partnered with Thompson for a number of years.

According to Facklam, Raymond demonstrated excellent attendance; he demonstrated high scholastics in his automotive technology studies and at his home school; and he needed to become certified by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation in at least three of four available areas to be eligible for the award.

“During his two years enrolled at the Ormsby Center, Raymond demonstrated himself to be deserving of this award through his hard work in the classroom and his commitment to the field of automotive technology,” Facklam said. “I am sure that Raymond has a bright future ahead of him and I wish him the best.”

During the ceremony on June 10, Raymond was presented with a special plaque built by the Ormsby Center’s Construction Technology Program and adorned with connecting rods from a Top Fuel Funny Car, a type of drag racer. He was also presented with a $500 certificate for Snap-on Tools, which manufactures some of the very best automotive tools on the market. The company doubled the value of the initial award.

The award was funded by donations from Thompson’s friends, family and colleagues. After retiring from the military, Thompson, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, pursued a career in automotive technology, going back to school and then to work for a local Ford dealership. There, he developed an interest in teaching and eventually came to the E2CCB Carrier Educational Center in Angola to teach automotive technology to high school juniors and seniors. Eventually, he moved to the Ormsby Center and worked beside Facklam for a number of years.

According to Facklam, Thompson was instrumental in getting the program certified by both the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation and the Automotive Youth Education Services; in fact, the Ormsby Center Automotive Technology Program was only the second in New York state to become NATEF-certified and remains one of only three to be AYES-certified.

Anyone interested in donating to the Roger Thompson Memorial Fund may contact Facklam at the Ormsby Educational Center at 652-8250.

Charles Facklam