Rosemond to speak at O.J. Thomas Homecoming

O.J. Thomas will celebrate its 52nd year Homecoming Aug. 11-13. 

The awards and memorial ceremony will be held at Progressive Missionary Baptist Church on Aug. 11. Starting time for the ceremony is 7 p.m. The special guest speaker is Captain Niley J. Rosemond a retired Northwest/Delta Airlines Pilot.

Captain Niley Rosemond is no stranger to the alumni, nor the community. He is an alumni of O.J. Thomas High School class of 1966 where he graduated with honors and second rank in his class. He grew up in Maysfield, where he attended Milam Grove Elementary school. After completing elementary school, he attended O.J. Thomas High in Cameron. 

Upon graduation, Rosemond attended and graduated from Prairie View A&M University in 1970 with a Bachelor’s degree in electronic engineering technology with minor studies in military science. While at Prairie View A&M University, he was one of the top leaders in the Navy ROTC program. Following graduation, he received a commission of second lieutenant in the United States Marines Corps. He was accepted in the Naval Air Flight School and graduated in 1972. Following flight school, he flew in the Marine Corps flying the light attack plane (OV-10) Bronco and other aircraft. Rosemond served as a marine pilot for five and a half years before being discharged from the military in 1976. 

In 1977 he was hired as an airline pilot by North Central Airlines. Upon completing training, he was based at Detroit Metro Airport. Later mergers, changed north central to become northwest and with another merger to become now Northwest/Delta Airlines. Rosemond flew domestic routes flying the DC-9 and DC-10 jet airliners.  He finished his career in 2008, flying the Airbus A-320 and the Airbus A-330 jet airliners on international flights across the Atlantic and the Pacific for 12 years. He remained with the company for 31 years as an airline pilot.

Rosemond married his longtime sweetheart from high school and college in 1971 and to the union they have two daughters who live in Texas. He and his wife Ethel Sherman Rosemond continues to live in Michigan. They are the grandparents of three children who live in Texas.

Rosemond will be the parade’s grand marshal and will be available to talk and discuss topics on what it takes to become a pilot at the bulldog luncheon held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 12, at the O.J. Thomas campus cafeteria.