Pioneer NASA Engineer Emilio Rodriguez, Jr. Passes Away

By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2017

Eagle Passan and pioneer National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) engineer Emilio Rodriguez, Jr., age 95, passed away on Sunday, May 14, 2017, in Eagle Pass, Texas, leaving many Eagle Passans, family, and friends mourning his death.

Rodriguez was born on November 1, 1921 and was the son of Emilio and Celia Rodriguez.  Rodriguez had a brother, Patricio Rodriguez, and three sisters, Elvira Rodriguez, Ophelia Rodriguez, and Natividad Rodriguez.

Rodriguez graduated from Eagle Pass High School and shortly thereafter volunteered in the U.S. Army in September 1942 during World War II.  He reached the level of T-5 as a Radio Operator for the 761st Military Police and was stationed in the Pacific Northwest, including Alaska.  He was proud of his military service to his country, United States.

Upon completing his military service, Rodriguez returned to Houston, Texas where he enrolled at the University of Houston School of Engineering, successfully completing an engineering degree as one of the first Hispanic, if not the first, to earn an engineering degree from the University of Houston.

After completing his engineering degree, Rodriguez worked at a radio station and later was hired as one of the first Hispanic, if not the first, engineers at NASA’s Johnson Space Control Center in Houston, Texas.  Rodriguez enjoyed a brilliant  engineering career at NASA for more than 30 years where he got to work in the legendary Mercury and Apollo Space Missions, including the first landing on the Moon.  He successfully retired from NASA with highest honors and returned to his beloved hometown of Eagle Pass to retire.

Upon returning to Eagle Pass, Rodriguez married Gloria M. Barrientos and lived happily together until her passing last year.  Rodriguez will be remembered as a pioneer American engineer that made significant contributions to the American Space Program at the NASA Johnson Space Control Center as well as a beautiful, loving, and humble but extraordinary human being devoted to the Lord.  He always lived life to its fullest and carried a big smile with an incredible sense of humor.

Frank Burnett, a close friend of Rodriguez from his NASA days, stated “I was lucky to have Rod’s friendship.  He always made the day brighter.”

Rodriguez is survived by his stepchildren Rene, Diana, Nelda, and Patricia Barrientos and family, as well as by his nephew Roberto Rodriguez and family from San Antonio, Texas, numerous nephews and nieces, great nephews and nieces,  friends, and neighbors.

Rodriguez’s funeral is under the direction of Yeager-Barrera Mortuary of Eagle Pass, Texas and a public memorial will be held on Wednesday, May 17th, from 5 P.M. to 9 P.M. with a Rosary at 7:30 P.M. followed with a memorial mass on Thursday, May 18th, at 11 A.M. at Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church in Eagle Pass and interment following mass at the Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Cemetery.

The United States and Eagle Pass, Texas have lost a great American hero whose contributions to America will live forever at NASA in Houston, Texas and the American Space Program.  Rest in peace, comrade Emilio Rodriguez, Jr.