Linda Bench Rossler

1976 Graduate

Teacher/Coach/Official/Business Owner

Nominated by: Cindy Christensen Newton ‘72

Upon graduating in 1976 from Clay High School Linda attended Ohio University. As a member of the Women's Track Team she was elected as Outstanding Senior Athlete, and served as an Assistant Track Coach. In 1986 Linda was inducted into the Clay High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Linda spent over 14 years coaching various sports. As an official, with over 20 years' experience she is still active on the court working the scoreboard for basketball, officiating OHSAA Volleyball, Track/Cross Country, USA Volleyball and Softball, and USTAF Track and Field at the collegiate level.

Linda's early teachings began as a Physical Education Instructor at St. Thomas Aquinas. Midway thru her teaching career a position in Agriculture Education Program at Clay became available. During her tenure the Agriculture Education Program was recognized as one of the top 6 programs in the nation to receive the National Outstanding Program Award, the highest award attainable at the national level. After her tenure in Agriculture she returned to Physical Education and submitted grants as part of the National Archery in the School Program.

Over $6,500 in grant money was received to bring back archery to Oregon City Schools. Linda retired from Jerusalem Elementary teaching Physical Education in 2015. Linda still maintains her archery certifications in NASP, USA and 4-H. As part of the Ohio 4-H Shooting Sports program she serves as an instructor for the Broncos 4-H Club and is the Ohio 4-H National Recurve Archery Coach.

A lifelong goal to be part of the Olympic dream was realized when she was accepted as a volunteer for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics as a Transportation Specialist and again for the 2017 Rio Olympics as a CRU mission team project member. Linda has her sights set on the Los Angeles games in 2028.

To add to her professional experience she served as a Jerusalem Township Trustee and currently serves as Township Zoning Inspector. Linda presently is the owner/operator of CharMar Farms LLC, established in 2014. Business ventures beyond the farm include Maumee Bay Bed & Breakfast and Maumee Bay Kayak Livery.

Eric R. Brinkman

1996 Graduate

Lieutenant Colonel, USAF

Nominated by: Marlene Tank Brinkman

Lieutenant Colonel Eric R. Brinkman was born in Oregon, Ohio on October 26, 1977. He graduated from Clay High School in 1996 where he lettered in Baseball, Basketball, and Golf and was also elected as President of his graduating class. After graduating as class Salutatorian, Eric accepted a Congressional Appointment to the United States Air Force Academy, where he graduated with honors in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Engineering. Eric earned a Master of Business Administration Touro University International in 2005. He is a graduate of Professional Military Education, to include Squadron Officer School and Air Command and Staff College.

Eric earned his pilot wings after initial training at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma, and completed his training at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas. Upon completing C-130E training in 2002, he was assigned to the 36th Airlift Squadron at Yokota Air Base, Japan. During this time he served as an executive officer and aircraft commander in the C-130E where he conducted multiservice and multinational air mobility missions throughout the Pacific Theater. Following his tour at Yokota Air Base, Eric was assigned to the 48th Flying Training Squadron at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. While at Columbus, he served as T-1A Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander, and Chief of Squadron Standardization and Evaluation.

In 2010, after completing C-130J training, Eric reported to the 41st Airlift Squadron at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas. While at Little Rock, he served as a C-130J Instructor Pilot and Assistant Operations Officer. During this time, Eric also served as a Presidential Advance Agent, in which he coordinated "Air Force One" movements on and around assigned airfields across the globe. In 2012 Eric joined the United States Air Force Reserve at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma where he has since served as a T-1A Instructor Pilot for the 5th Flying Training Squadron.

Lieutenant Colonel Brinkman is a command pilot with more than 4,200 hours in the C-130E, C-130H, C-130J and T-1A, to include more than 700 combat and combat support hours flying in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and the Global War on Terrorism. His decorations include Meritorious Service Medal with 1 device, Air Medal with 5 devices, Aerial Achievement Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with one device and various unit and campaign awards. Eric was moved from reserve duty to active duty at the end of August 2017.