Rod McWhirter, Rain Bird Golf’s national specification manager, retired April 30, after nearly 33 years with the company.

McWhirter joined Rain Bird in December 1973 as a golf course irrigation specialist, covering a five-state territory and rose quickly, serving many roles including district manager and eastern turf sales manager.

As national specification manager since 1989, he cultivated relationships throughout the industry with golf course architects and customers, establishing the company’s brand value in the golf market, and helping to develop and launch the EAGLE line of golf rotors.

“Rod’s legacy to Rain Bird Golf is his work ethic, irrigation industry relationships, his propensity to ‘tell it like it is,’ and his commitment to Rain Bird Golf’s success,” said Jeff Kiewel, Rain Bird Golf’s national sales manager.