Fantasy Author Terry Brooks

An accomplished professional in the field of manufacturing, Roderick C. Wright II most recently served as a team leader and manufacturing support technician at Steelcase in Kentwood, Michigan. In his free time, Roderick C. Wright enjoys reading, especially science fiction and fantasy novels. He lists Terry Brooks among his favorite authors of all time.

Born in Illinois in 1944, Terry Brooks is a popular fantasy writer who published his first novel, The Sword of Shannara, in 1977. Brooks’ debut novel struck a chord with both readers and critics and went on to become the first work of fantasy fiction to reach the New York Times trade paperback bestseller list. It also helped boost the commercial expansion of the fantasy genre.

Following his successful debut, Brooks published The Elfstones of Shannara and The Wishsong of Shannara, which combined with his first novel to complete the original Shannara Trilogy. Since then, he has written more than 20 bestselling books that make up the Shannara, Landover, and Word/Void series. Brooks remains one of the most popular living fantasy authors and is currently working on a new novel, The Black Elfstone, which will be published in June 2017.

Civil Air Patrol: Focus on Aerospace Education and Youth Training

During his career, Roderick C. Wright II served with both the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Army. Roderick C. Wright also spent several years as a commander of a Civil Air Patrol squadron located in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The government established the Civil Air Patrol in the late 1930s as a way for volunteers to use their flying skills to defend the United States at the start of World War II. In 1948, the Civil Air Patrol officially became an auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, and it continues to support the U.S. and its citizens today.

The primary goals of the Civil Air Patrol are to provide aerospace education, train youth for potential service in the U.S. Air Force, and offer various emergency services as needed. There are aerospace education programs for both the general public and volunteer members of the Civil Air Patrol, and this instruction is a key component of the organization’s youth training cadet program.

Two Underrated Piston Greats

 

An experienced operations and manufacturing support professional, Roderick C. Wright is a proven leader in his field. Outside of his professional life, Roderick C. Wright follows the NBA and has been a fan of the Detroit Pistons for many years.

When considering the all-time great Pistons, certain players come to mind immediately, such as Isaiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, and Bill Laimbeer. There are other greats, however, who sometimes fly under the radar. Here are two of the underrated players in the franchise.

Though he spent only four years in Detroit, Rick Mahorn was a pivotal component of the team’s first NBA title in 1989. He was the starting power forward for the team, averaging just over 5 points and 5 rebounds per game. He was a veteran presence inside and a tough defender, but most importantly, he was perfect for the physical brand of play that became the hallmark of the Pistons.

Trading for Rasheed Wallace just before the deadline in 2004 was likely the move that secured the championship for the Pistons that year. His 13 points per game were a solid contribution, but it was his defensive work, particularly against an in-his-prime Shaquille O’Neal, that helped the underdog Pistons upset the Lakers in the NBA finals. Though he left the team as a free agent in 2009, Wallace is still in the franchise’s all-time top ten for 3-pointers and blocked shots.