Born: December 22, 1946

Passed: March 21, 2013

Played for NAU: 1966-1967

Michael Elwood Bomar slipped away March 21, 2013, surrounded by his family. Mike was born to Robert N. and Mary L. Bomar Dec. 22, 1946, in Corona, Calif. Mike fought a long, hard courageous battle with Parkinson's disease. Mike attended school in Riverside, Calif. He graduated from Norte Vista High School in 1964.

While in high school, he was a member of the high school football teams, basketball teams and he wrestled. He went on to Riverside City College and again played football and basketball while he was there, transferring to Northern Arizona University with a football scholarship. Mike enjoyed successful seasons at both Riverside City College and at Northern Arizona University. The spring football draft was coming up, and Mike had several teams looking to sign him to a contract. In November of 1967, Mike was a passenger in a pickup truck that was involved in a head-on collision. This put a temporary end to his football dreams. Mike graduated in 1971 with a bachelor of science in criminology from NAU. In the spring of 1971, he accepted an invitation to try out with the San Diego Chargers. Due to the car accident in 1967 and the Chargers insurance limitations, it would not allow him to continue with the dream. Mike married Kathryn Szarek May 25, 1968, in Riverside, Calif. They have been married for 44 years. They had two children, Brian and Stephanie.

Mike went to work for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office in 1973. He worked at Glen Helen Correction Center, San Bernardino Sheriff's transportation division, before being assigned to the Big Bear Station. At that station he rose through the ranks to sergeant. While in Big Bear, Mike became a member of the San Bernardino County Dive Team. This was an underwater recovery and rescue team. He transferred to the vice and narcotics division and then went to become patrol sergeant in the High Desert division in Victorville, Calif., before health reasons forced his retirement. Mike leaves behind his wife, Kathryn in Culdesac; son, Brian (Kim) in Culdesac; and daughter, Stephanie (Jason) in Orofino. Also surviving Mike are four grandchildren, Michael Neil Bomar of Anchorage, Alaska, Samantha Bomar of Culdesac, Hunter Lichti and Maddox Lichti of Orofino. Also surviving Mike are four brothers, John (Carolyn) Bomar of Vancouver, Wash., Bob (Sandy) Bomar of Eureka, Calif., and his sister, Sharon (Jim) Ryan of Riverside, Calif., Dr. Stan (Joey) Szarek of Chandler, Ariz., and Frank Wilson of Porterville, Calif. There are also numerous nieces and nephews and cousins. Mike was also survived by his aunt, Estella Sare Reed in Corona, Calif.