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Page 6 The Skanner Seattle February 21, 2018 News NASA Celebrates Legacy of First Black American Astronaut USAF/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS NASA Celebrates Legacy of First Black American Astronaut on Anniversary of his Death Robert Henry Lawrence, Jr. was the first African American astronaut. By Erick Johnson Chicago Crusader/NNPA Member ifty years ago, a trag- ic accident ended the groundbreak- ing career of Major Robert H. Lawrence, Jr., a Chicago native and stel- lar Air Force pilot who became America’s first F Black astronaut. On December 8, 2017— the 50th anniversary of his death—NASA hon- ored his often-ignored legacy and contributions to the agency. Earlier this year, the Chicago Crusader re- ported about the lack of visibility of NASA’s first Black American astro- naut and helped to raise awareness about Law- rence’s incredible jour- ney. In planning a story for its annual Black History Month edition, Chicago Crusader staffers discov- ered that little was being done to honor Lawrence, while NASA held memo- rials to mark the 50th anniversary of three, White astronauts who perished in a fire aboard the Apollo 1 space mod- ule, during a preflight test. The Crusader sto- ry lauding Lawrence’s achievements was pub- lished in dozens of Black newspapers after the National Newspapers Publishers Association (NNPA) carried it on its newswire. Born in 1935 to the late Gwendolyn Duncan and Robert H. Lawrence, Sr., the future Air Force pilot was a man ahead of his time. Long before mag- net and STEM programs were part of the high school curriculum, Law- rence excelled in math and science. At 16, he graduated with honors from Engle- wood High School and went on to earn a bache- lor’s degree in chemistry from Bradley Universi- ty. He married the late Information is powerful. The power is in your hands. NEWS Serving Seattle and Portland www.TheSkanner.com TheSkannerNews @TheSkannerNews Barbara Cress from the prominent Chicago Cress family and entered the Air Force at age 21 before earning a doctorate in physical chemistry from Ohio State University, becoming the first astro- naut at NASA to earn a doctorate degree. As a United States Air Force pilot, Lawrence accumulated over 2,500 flight hours. In June 1967, Lawrence graduated from the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School (Class ‘66B) at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. In that same month, he was se- lected by the USAF as an astronaut for their Manned Orbital Labo- ratory (MOL) program, thus becoming the first Black astronaut. Lawrence died while training another pilot, Maj. John Royer, to per- form the “flare” maneu- ver—an operation that Lawrence had already mastered— in the F-104 Starfighter. According to NBC News, “Lawrence’s mem- ory languished in obscu- rity” partly due to the fact that, the Pentagon only recognized some- one as an “astronaut” if they actually flew to an altitude above 50 miles. However, Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Va.) mounted a campaign that forced NASA to put Lawrence’s name on the Space Mir- ror Memorial in 1997— thirty years after Law- rence’s death. “On Dec. 8, 1997, on the thirtieth anniversary of his death, Lawrence had his name unveiled on the Florida memorial,” NBC News reported. The ceremony recog- nizing Lawrence, earlier this month—although spirited, at times—was a somber one for the 300 guests that included dec- orated NASA astronauts, dignitaries, relatives, and friends, who had flown and driven miles across the country to honor Lawrence at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Lawrence’s older sister, Dr. Barbara Lawrence, attended and spoke; an- other prominent Chicago resident who was pres- ent was E. Dawn Griffin, the oldest daughter of Ernest Griffin, founder of Griffin Funeral Home in Bronzeville. The Grif- fin Funeral Home, which closed in 2012, handled the funeral arrange- ments for Lawrence. Members from Law- rence’s college fraterni- ty, Omega Psi Phi, also attended to honor one of their own. On the sprawling grounds of the NASA facility, they participated in a two- and-a-half-hour ceremo- ny that began at the Cen- ter for Space Education and culminated with an emotional wreath-laying ceremony at the base of the national Space Mir- ror Memorial, a massive black granite structure where Lawrence’s name is among those of 20 as- tronauts who either died in flight or in training. The ceremony brought out some of NASA’s as- tronauts and biggest of- ficials. Charles Bolden, America’s first Black NASA chief administra- tor, and Stephanie Wil- son, the second Black female astronaut, attend- ed the service. Another Black astronaut, Win- ston Scott, played the trumpet in a band that performed various jazz songs, including, “Fly Me to the Moon.” Reported- ly, jazz was one of Law- rence’s favorite musical genres. Dr. Herman B. White Jr., a physicist and lec- turer at Bradley Univer- sity in Peoria, Ill., Law- rence’s alma mater, gave a presentation where a memorial scholarship and a conference room bear Lawrence’s name. Recently, Ohio State Uni- versity in Columbus, Ohio renamed a dormito- ry in Lawrence’s honor. Bolden, who piloted the space shuttles Columbia and Discovery, praised Lawrence for his spirit. “He took that first step,” Bolden said. “If he had lived, he would have been flying on that space shuttle also.” Col. Robert Cabana, who flew on four shuttle missions, agreed. “Major Robert H. Law- rence truly was a hero,” said Cabana. “He set the stage for what was to come.” Dr. Barbara Lawrence shared her experiences with her brother as they grew up on the South Side of Chicago. She said, when Robert was young, he was a very disciplined student and dedicated to learning. “I’m truly proud to have been his sister,” she shared. “He wasn’t inter- ested in being the first Black astronaut. He was only interested in being given the opportunity to do what he wanted to do. I’m sorry he wasn’t here a little longer, but I think his job was one that was well done.” The Chicago Crusader is a member publication of the National Newspaper Publishers Association.
