Dr. Ronald McNair

I have always encouraged my students to "reach for the stars" as they follow their dreams.  I have also reminded them that this takes hard work, perseverance, learning from your mistakes, mental toughness, the ability to overcome obstacles, hard work, and more hard work!  Here is a story of a young boy who never gave up...

Dr. Ronald McNair
1950-1986

Dr. Ronald McNair (Ph.D. physicist and NASA astronaut) was born in segregated Lake City, South Carolina, a "typical" southern city.  In the summer of 1959, he walked to the segregated Lake City Public Library and refused to leave without being allowed to check out his books. After the police and his mother were called it was decided that he would be allowed to check out the books...beginning his love affair with books, science, and space!  After graduating as valedictorian of his high school, he went on to earn a bachelor's degree in engineering physics from North Carolina A&T State University and a Ph.D.in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology specializing in laser physics.

Watch his story here (3:21)

http://www.pbs.org/pov/storycorps/eyes-on-the-stars.php

 

 

In 1978, Dr. McNair was selected from a pool of ten thousand applicants into the NASA astronaut program. He eventually flew aboard the space shuttle Challenger in1984, becoming the second African American to fly in space.  Following this mission, he was selected for another Challenger mission which launched on January 28, 1986.  Unfortunately, McNair and his crew were killed as the shuttle exploded less than two minutes after take off.

 

 

 

The Lake City Public Library where Ron was nearly arrested as a 9 year old boy is now appropriately named after him...