Reverend Lanier is a preacher who gives a sermon, after receiving encouragement, if not guidance, from "The Great Six," the six teachers of the lower grades, on the topic of fathers and sons. He directly mentions the rocket boys and their great dreams and states they should be helped, and not hindered. He is later given negative feedback, by the company, but the deed is already done. His sermon results in Homer Sr. giving Sonny and the rocket boys the use of an abandoned slack dump to fire off their rockets.