Reverend Josiah Lanier Character Analysis in Rocket Boys

Reverend Josiah Lanier is the preacher for Coalwood’s main church, which is owned by the same mining company that dominates town life. Lanier is instrumental in convincing the town of Coalwood—and Homer Hickam Sr.—to support Homer and the BCMA in their rocketing endeavors— he delivers a sermon in which he encourages families to support their children’s dreams. Sadly, Lanier is forced to leave Coalwood in the aftermath of a particularly brutal union strike.

Reverend Josiah Lanier Character Timeline in Rocket Boys

The timeline below shows where the character Reverend Josiah Lanier appears in Rocket Boys. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Dreams, Ambition, and Acceptance Theme Icon

Hard Work, Scarcity, Science, and Innovation Theme Icon

The company church is presided over by Reverend Josiah Lanier , a Methodist. Whenever there is a new Reverend, Homer recalls, the religious denomination of... (full context)

Homer’s family attends Sunday church service. Homer sits with O’Dell and Sherman. The preacher, Reverend Lanier , gives a sermon about a disobedient child who caused his father great pain. Lanier... (full context)

...thinks that his father looks vaguely disgusted with him, but he wonders if he’s taken Reverend Lanier ’s sermon to heart. In the car, Homer does fairly well with his driving lessons.... (full context)

...that he comes to believe that math is a “message from God.” He goes to Reverend Lanier , hoping to tease out his complicated thoughts. When he explains himself to Lanier, Lanier... (full context)

...so, and the property sale proceeds. Reverend Richard manages to pay for his church, but Reverend Lanier loses his job—because he works for the company, he’s dismissed from his position. No one... (full context)