Richard Rohmer
Encyclopedia
Major-General
(Ret'd) Richard Heath Rohmer, OC, CMM, DFC, O.Ont
, KStJ, CD
, OL, QC
, JD
, LLD (born in 1924). Canada's most decorated citizen, an aviator, a senior lawyer (aviation law), adviser to business leaders and the Government of Ontario. He is a prolific writer as the bibliography below shows. See the list of his e-books (and his new "The Building of the CN Tower") at http://www.rohmer-ebooks.com all published by his family corporation RailCore Press Inc.. Rohmer was born in Hamilton, Ontario
, and spent some of his early youth in Pasadena, California
as well as in western Ontario at Windsor
and Fort Erie
.
The Peterborough Examiner's lead editorial of 14 January 2009 says this: "Rohmer, one of Canada's most colourful figures of the past half-century, was a World War II fighter pilot, later a major-general in the armed forces reserve, a high-profile lawyer and a successful novelist and biographer."
He was an unexceptional student in high school and worked briefly at Fleet Aerospace before joining, at 18, the RCAF
early in World War II
. He flew P-51 Mustang
fighters and was taking part in the Battle of Normandy as a fighter reconnaissance pilot when he spotted what appeared to be a staff car, usually used to carry German officers. Rommel
was the officer in question. Rohmer was not permitted to attack the staff car but by radio reported its location to Group Control Centre who sent in two Spitfires that strafed the target. Rohmer later took part in the liberation of France, Belgium and Holland. After the war, thanks to the advice of a priest at Assumption College
in Windsor, he found his way to the practice of law where he continues to distinguish himself. He continued with the Air Force, attaining the rank of major-general, and Chief of Reserves of the Canadian Armed Forces. He is active in a range of legal, corporate and military activities. He was chairman of the 60th anniversary of D-Day celebrations which took place in the presence of the Queen at Juno Beach in Normandy
on 6 June 2004. He co-chaired the Ontario advisory committee that created the Veterans' Memorial, unveiled on 17 September 2006 in front of the provincial legislature at Queen's Park. He is chair of the Premier's Ceremonial Advisory Council and a member of the Advisory Council of the Order of Ontario.
He chaired the significant Royal Commission on Book Publishing in 1971 /72 . He is Canada's premier author of both fiction and non-fiction works . His most recent non-fiction is [The Building of the CN Tower] to be published April 2011by RailCore Press Inc of which he is president .
His most recent novel, Ultimatum 2 was published in early 2007. It fictionalizes a confrontation between the US and Russia against Canada over the building of an international high level nuclear waste disposal site in arctic Canada.
General Rohmer is the Honorary Deputy Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police
, the Honorary Chief of Toronto Emergency Medical Services, patron of the Toronto St. John Ambulance(1978–2007), Honorary Fire Chief of Collingwood, Ontario
, and honorary detective of the Toronto Police Service.
He was twice chancellor of the University of Windsor
, serving a total of 13 years. In 1978 he negotiated the donation to the university of Conrad Black
's collection of Duplessis
papers in exchange for an honorary degree.
He was a charter member of his local Civitan club, and he served as governor of his Civitan district and treasurer of the international organization. His position allowed him to meet U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower
to present Civitan's World Citizenship Award.
He lives with his wife Mary-O in Collingwood, Ontario
and practices aviation litigation with the Toronto law firm of Rohmer & Fenn. He has two daughters, Ann Rohmer
a TV personality and Catherine, a lawyer. He is a licensed pilot.
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
(Ret'd) Richard Heath Rohmer, OC, CMM, DFC, O.Ont
Order of Ontario
The Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
, KStJ, CD
Canadian Forces Decoration
The Canadian Forces Decoration is a Canadian award bestowed upon members of the Canadian Forces who have completed twelve years of military service, with certain conditions. By convention, it is also given to the Governor General of Canada upon his or her appointment as viceroy, which includes the...
, OL, QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
, JD
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
, LLD (born in 1924). Canada's most decorated citizen, an aviator, a senior lawyer (aviation law), adviser to business leaders and the Government of Ontario. He is a prolific writer as the bibliography below shows. See the list of his e-books (and his new "The Building of the CN Tower") at http://www.rohmer-ebooks.com all published by his family corporation RailCore Press Inc.. Rohmer was born in Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
, and spent some of his early youth in Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
as well as in western Ontario at Windsor
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
and Fort Erie
Fort Erie, Ontario
Fort Erie is a town on the Niagara River in the Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada. It is located directly across the river from Buffalo, New York....
.
The Peterborough Examiner's lead editorial of 14 January 2009 says this: "Rohmer, one of Canada's most colourful figures of the past half-century, was a World War II fighter pilot, later a major-general in the armed forces reserve, a high-profile lawyer and a successful novelist and biographer."
He was an unexceptional student in high school and worked briefly at Fleet Aerospace before joining, at 18, the RCAF
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
early in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He flew P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
fighters and was taking part in the Battle of Normandy as a fighter reconnaissance pilot when he spotted what appeared to be a staff car, usually used to carry German officers. Rommel
Erwin Rommel
Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel , popularly known as the Desert Fox , was a German Field Marshal of World War II. He won the respect of both his own troops and the enemies he fought....
was the officer in question. Rohmer was not permitted to attack the staff car but by radio reported its location to Group Control Centre who sent in two Spitfires that strafed the target. Rohmer later took part in the liberation of France, Belgium and Holland. After the war, thanks to the advice of a priest at Assumption College
Assumption College
Assumption College is a private, Roman Catholic, liberal arts college located on 185 acres in Worcester, Massachusetts. Assumption has an enrollment of about 2,117 undergraduates...
in Windsor, he found his way to the practice of law where he continues to distinguish himself. He continued with the Air Force, attaining the rank of major-general, and Chief of Reserves of the Canadian Armed Forces. He is active in a range of legal, corporate and military activities. He was chairman of the 60th anniversary of D-Day celebrations which took place in the presence of the Queen at Juno Beach in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
on 6 June 2004. He co-chaired the Ontario advisory committee that created the Veterans' Memorial, unveiled on 17 September 2006 in front of the provincial legislature at Queen's Park. He is chair of the Premier's Ceremonial Advisory Council and a member of the Advisory Council of the Order of Ontario.
He chaired the significant Royal Commission on Book Publishing in 1971 /72 . He is Canada's premier author of both fiction and non-fiction works . His most recent non-fiction is [The Building of the CN Tower] to be published April 2011by RailCore Press Inc of which he is president .
His most recent novel, Ultimatum 2 was published in early 2007. It fictionalizes a confrontation between the US and Russia against Canada over the building of an international high level nuclear waste disposal site in arctic Canada.
General Rohmer is the Honorary Deputy Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police
Ontario Provincial Police
The Ontario Provincial Police is the Provincial Police service for the province of Ontario, Canada.-Overview:The OPP is the the largest deployed police force in Ontario, and the second largest in Canada. The service is responsible for providing policing services throughout the province in areas...
, the Honorary Chief of Toronto Emergency Medical Services, patron of the Toronto St. John Ambulance(1978–2007), Honorary Fire Chief of Collingwood, Ontario
Collingwood, Ontario
Collingwood is a town in Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it is situated on Nottawasaga Bay at the southern point of Georgian Bay.-History:...
, and honorary detective of the Toronto Police Service.
He was twice chancellor of the University of Windsor
University of Windsor
The University of Windsor is a public comprehensive and research university in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's southernmost university. It has a student population of approximately 15,000 full-time and part-time undergraduate students and over 1000 graduate students...
, serving a total of 13 years. In 1978 he negotiated the donation to the university of Conrad Black
Conrad Black
Conrad Moffat Black, Baron Black of Crossharbour, OC, KCSG, PC is a Canadian-born member of the British House of Lords, and a historian, columnist and publisher, who was for a time the third largest newspaper magnate in the world. Lord Black controlled Hollinger International, Inc...
's collection of Duplessis
Maurice Duplessis
Maurice Le Noblet Duplessis served as the 16th Premier of the Canadian province of Quebec from 1936 to 1939 and 1944 to 1959. A founder and leader of the highly conservative Union Nationale party, he rose to power after exposing the misconduct and patronage of Liberal Premier Louis-Alexandre...
papers in exchange for an honorary degree.
He was a charter member of his local Civitan club, and he served as governor of his Civitan district and treasurer of the international organization. His position allowed him to meet U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
to present Civitan's World Citizenship Award.
He lives with his wife Mary-O in Collingwood, Ontario
Collingwood, Ontario
Collingwood is a town in Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it is situated on Nottawasaga Bay at the southern point of Georgian Bay.-History:...
and practices aviation litigation with the Toronto law firm of Rohmer & Fenn. He has two daughters, Ann Rohmer
Ann Rohmer
Ann Margaret Rohmer is a television personality on CP24 in Toronto, Canada.- Television career :In 1979, she hosted the syndicated program Show Biz. Hired by Global TV, she was a host on the award-winning magazine show That’s Life...
a TV personality and Catherine, a lawyer. He is a licensed pilot.
Honours
- Officer of the Order of Canada (1990)
- Commander of the Order of Military MeritOrder of Military Merit (Canada)The Order of Military Merit is a military honour for merit that is, within the Canadian system of honours, the second highest order administered by the Governor General-in-Council, on behalf of the Queen of Canada...
- Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
- Order of OntarioOrder of OntarioThe Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
(1997) - Knight of the Order of St. JohnVenerable Order of Saint JohnThe Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
- Canadian Forces DecorationCanadian Forces DecorationThe Canadian Forces Decoration is a Canadian award bestowed upon members of the Canadian Forces who have completed twelve years of military service, with certain conditions. By convention, it is also given to the Governor General of Canada upon his or her appointment as viceroy, which includes the...
- Queen's CounselQueen's CounselQueen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(1960) - Officer of the Order of Leopold (Belgium)
- Chevalier of the Legion of Honour
- Jubilee Medal
- Centennial Medal
- Confederation Medal
- Golden Jubilee Medal
- Second World War Medals