Distinguished Engineer Citations

Roger Jeschke 

Distinguished Engineer

2025

Degree

B.S. Mechanical Engineering - Texas Tech 1974

Citation

Roger Jeschke grew up in the small farming communities around San Angelo, TX.  Starting in

Lowake, pop. 14, then moving to Veribest, pop. 17, which included his family of 7,  where

he attended school in a four room school house with two grades per room.  Roger attended high school in Wall where he graduated with a class of 29.   

His father was a farmer/rancher who started managing then owned cotton gins in Lowake and Veribest when Roger was 5 years old.  During the summers and after school Roger worked in the Gin and learned the mechanics of the gin operating and repairing various pieces of equipment.  This was the reason he chose Mechanical Engineering at Texas Tech in 1970.  

Upon graduating in 1974 with a BSME, Roger stayed in Lubbock where he was hired by Tait A & C Pump, a vertical turbine pump (VTP) company as a design engineer.  It was here that he met Allen Hobratschk, also a Texas Tech Alumni, who became his life long friend, co-worker and business partner at National Pump Company (NPC).   

In 1979 Roger moved to Phoenix to work for NPC. which was being acquired by a British company.  

In 1981 NPC expanded into Saudi Arabia. Roger moved there in 1982 working as the Project Manager until 1984 where he oversaw the building of the plant and operations.  After returning to the USA in 1984 until 1989 Roger oversaw the development of an irrigation soaker hose product.

In 1989, Roger returned to Saudi Arabia where he spent 5 years as Operations Manager.

In 1992 with no money and an agreement to work two more years in Saudi Arabia (sweat equity), Roger purchased a share of NPC.  In 1994 Roger moved back to the USA to take over as owner of NPC.

In 1997, Roger completed the purchase of NPC and over the next 13 years NPC grew to more than 200 employees with 6 locations coast to coast, including Lubbock, where he recruited Red Raider engineering students.  

 In 2010 NPC was sold to The Gorman Rupp Company.  Roger remained President and later V.P. of Business Development overseeing the acquisition of two companies before retiring in 2014.

Roger was a member and served on the Hydraulic Institute Board for many years and was active with local, state and national ground water organizations and waste water, petroleum and mining associations.  

Roger is an active member of the M.E. Academy and served as an officer and later joined the Dean’s Council as a Member and Officer.  He has been active on the International Experience Program and raising funds for the Endowment.  He and his wife of 26 years, Deni, have enjoyed meeting students before and after their International Experience to hear and see the difference the international experience made in their career choices.  

Roger enjoys watching most any sporting events, especially the Red Raiders and he can regularly be found on the golf course.  He and his wife enjoy traveling in a motor home visiting family and friends, volunteering and supporting various charities.