Tributes

Retired Colonel, United States Air Force Reserves, Samuel Idrogo, was born in Laredo, Texas on February 15, 1935. He was born to a family from humble beginnings with three sisters and one brother. As a young child, Colonel Idrogo was always known to spend a lot of time with model airplanes. He attended Laredo Martin High school and had a strong interest in mathematics and science courses. He was a distant runner on the track team and was selected as ROTC Cadet of the Year and voted “Best All-Around Male.” In his senior year, Colonel Idrogo served as Class President. He was selected as the Executive Officer of the Junior ROTC as well as President of the Pan American Student Forum. He was one of two seniors selected to attend Texas Boys State for outstanding students. He also became President and co-founder of the Laredo Junior LULAC (The League of United Latin American Citizenship) from 1953-1954. Colonel Idrogo graduated high school in 1953 in the top 5% of his class. In his high school yearbook, he was selected to be, “One Most Likely to Succeed.” Colonel Idrogo attended The University of Texas in Austin and earned academic scholarships. He carried a class schedule of 18 to 21 hours a semester and worked 6 days a week between the hours of 5:00pm to midnight as a waiter, cook and manager for a hamburger chain during his junior and senior college years. In 1958, Colonel Idrogo graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. Poor eyesight kept Colonel Idrogo from flying so he became an aircraft maintenance officer. He separated from active duty and began a prestigious civilian career at Kelly Air Force Base in 1957 as a Material Management Directorate GS5 Aerospace Engineer. While building and raising a family, in 1964, Colonel Idrogo was promoted Aerospace Engineer Supervisor at Kelly Air Force Base and enrolled at St. Mary’s University at night to work on his Master’s Degree in Business Administration, which he received in 1969. In 1972, Colonel Idrogo was promoted to Supervisor Mechanical Engineer and in 1973 his title changed to Supervisor of Quality Assurance Specialist. He held other various management positions; he was the chief of the Quality and Reliability Assurance Division and the chief of the Technical Services Branch. In 1976, Colonel Idrogo was promoted to GS-15 as Chief of Aeronautical Design and Performance Analysis Section, the first Mexican - American to hold that position. He managed over 100 engineers, equipment specialists, and administrative personnel. He was named as the Executive Assistant for external affairs to the Commander, San Antonio Air Logistics Center in January 1984 and he served in this positon with the distinction until he retired in June 2000. Colonel Idrogo enrolled at the University of Texas in Austin and completed his doctorial coursework and dissertation requirements towards his PhD in Public Management and Operations Research. He graduated from numerous federal executive courses, to name a few, such as Legislative Operations Roundtable for Executives, The Executive Developmental Seminar and The Senior Executive Seminar. He was also a graduate of the Air War College (Seminar) and of the first-ever USAF Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program which culminated with an Office of Personnel Management SES certificate. Colonel Idrogo served over 30 years combined active and reserve time in the United States Air Force. He served with the rank of Colonel in a General Officer position, as the Mobilization Assistant to the Commander of the Logistics Operations Center, Headquarters, Air Force Logistics Command, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. He received numerous awards including the Civil Service Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Meritorious Service Medal and Air Force Legion of Merit. An article by Ross Day, Lackland AFB Public Affairs officer, quoted Major General Bielowicz, the Air Logistics Center commander, “As one of the finest individuals you’ll ever know, he is a quiet, unassuming professional, our Kelly version of E. F Hutton. When Sam speaks, people listen because he is one of the wisest and most caring leaders you’re ever encountered. Having been a part of Kelly over half its existence, Samuel Idrogo himself has become a kind of Kelly Institution; a wonderful professional who represented the finest Kelly has to offer. Samuel Idrogo’s life time ambition was to pilot the aircraft.” Along with his professional career, Colonel Idrogo was actively involved in community affairs as board member of the United Fund, Guadalupe Community Center and the Board of Trustees of the San Antonio library. He was also Chairman of the Board of San Antonino Credit Union now known as Credit Human. Other service includes: member Target ‘90/Goals for the San Antonio Development Committee, the San Antonio Private Industry Council, the Mechanical Engineering Visiting Committee at the University of Texas at Austin, and was a charter member of the Advisory Committee of the College of Sciences and Engineering at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Colonel Idrogo also served as President of the Kelly Management Association for the year 1981-82, as Vice President of the Board of San Antonio Neighborhood Youth Organization, Vice President of the San Antonio New Schools Development Foundation, and as Board member of the San Antonio Education Foundation, chaired by his long-term friend Major General (Ret) Richard Smith. He was active at St. Matthew Catholic Church along with many more organizations. Over the years, Colonel Idrogo received numerous outstanding performance awards and letters of appreciation. In addition, Colonel Idrogo was an avid runner of marathons and participated in the New York and Boston Marathons on several occasions. He placed in the Boston Marathon in his age group. He later became the race director of the San Antonio Marathon. He served as a military liaison to the San Antonio Marathon Organizing Committee from 1988 to 2000. He served on the Board of the South Area Council of the S.A. Greater Chamber of Commerce and the Senior Games Organizing Committee. He was married on January 25, 1959 to Sylvia Garza Idrogo (surviving spouse), and had 6 children; Inez (Rick), Sammy (Peggy), Yvette (Tim), Michael, Sandra (Brian) and Richard. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Samuel Idrogo's Visitation/Rosary and Celebration Services: Visitation on: Tuesday December 19, 2017. Public Visitation: 6:00 to 7:00 PM. Rosary Service: 7:00 to 8:00 PM Mission Park Funeral Chapels North 3401 Cherry Ridge Dr. San Antonio, TX 78230 Celebration Mass Services on: Wednesday December 20, 2017 at 9:00 AM St. Matthew Catholic Church 10703 Wurzbach Rd., San Antonio, TX 78230 Interment at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at 10:15 AM followed by a reception at St. Matthew's Catholic Church. Note: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Samuel Idrogo Scholarship Fund to: Martin High School Attention: Mrs. Delia Saenz, 2002 San Bernado Ave., Laredo, TX 78040

Tributes

Col. Samuel Idrogo, Sr., USAF (Ret.)

February 15, 1935 - December 13, 2017