I was in the last class of senior Aero design students that Prof McElmurry taught. He'll be missed...

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Thomas Uriel McElmurry, Lieutenant Colonel, USAF, Ret. passed away on November 3. 2006 at the age of 85. Services will be held at 10:00AM, Monday November 6 at the Nassau Bay Baptist Church, 18131 Nassau Bay Drive.

Preceded in death earlier this year by his wife Katherine, Tom is survived by four sons, thirteen grand children and four great grand children. Tom began his Air Force career at the age of 17 with the Army Air Force in Seward Alaska, eventually receiving flight training in Santa Maria California in 1942. After flying two tours of duty in World War II, he obtained a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering, University of Alabama and master of science in aeronautical engineering, University of Michigan. Remaining on activity military and as a test pilot, Tom was Chief of the Operations and Training Branch, USAF Experimental Flight Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, and an Astronaut candidate NASA group 2, selected in 1961 for military astronaut class 1; Instructor, USAF Aerospace Research Pilot School where he was involved with the NF104 space plane ; test pilot at the Naval Weapons Center in California and at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. During his career with NASA, he was Chief, Flight Crew Operations, Office of Manned Space Flight (OMSF); Chief, Orbiter Atmospheric Flight Test Office; Director of Flight Crew Operations; Deputy Manager, Operations Integration, Space Shuttle Program; Office Manager, Operations Integration, Space Shuttle Program Office; Visiting Lecturer, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, Arizona; Assistant for Systems Reliability and Quality Assurance, Systems Division, Mission Operations.

Upon retiring from NASA he served 13 years as a Visiting Associate Professor, Aerospace Engineering Department, Texas A&M University. While at A&M he was the advisor to the student Aviation Association as well as to the Corp of Cadets. In his spare time, Tom was a very active flight instructor and avid flyer. With all his accomplishments and adventures, he made it very clear that the only important thing in his life was his relationship with God. He shared his faith with all he met and exemplified his Christian life in how he lived each day. The family express their sincere appreciation and love to Tom's friends that helped him thru his final days.

Yes I was in that class as well.

Thumbs up for a *great* man that led an outstanding and inspirational life! I was sad upon hearing the news this morning, but am content to know that he is enjoying his reward now in heaven.

He had three tremendous careers serving our nation as a wartime pilot, early NASA engineer/astronaut candidate, and perhaps most importantly as a teacher that had a genuine passion for the subject, but more important, for the students. I couldn't even begin to count the number of lives he touched in his relatively brief 13 years in Aggieland...I'm sure it is into the many hundreds. He always had time to help with any subject, from difficult Aero problems to life questions to faith...it didn't matter. He was always there, and always cheerful.

It was my privilege to have known him, and will never forget him.

here.

I hope my obituary is that inspiring.

**thumbs up for 'Gig 'Em **

One of my favorite profs. I ran into him and his wife a couple of years ago and he still remembered me.

One thing not mentioned in his obit was that he was also a bona fide war hero. He was awarded a medal (I don't remember which, either a silver star or a Distinguished Flying Cross) for taking on a Nazi convoy single handedly in his fighter in Italy. He had the citation hanging in his office.

He was always full of great stories. He was selected to be one of the first astronauts, but turned NASA down because back in the 50s they had no idea that they would ever get to fly in Space.

He also told me that the only time he ever got shot down was self inflicted. During a training exercise he was strafing a target. One of the bullets he fired ricocheted off a concrete bunker and went through his engine. He made a crash landing and walked away.

Anyway, an overall amazing man.

[This message has been edited by deep94 (edited 11/6/2006 11:32p).]

Also Bernard C Richardson died this weekend

quote:

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He was selected to be one of the first astronauts, but turned NASA down because back in the 50s they had no idea that they would ever get to fly in Space.

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He was deaf in one ear. From what I recall him telling me, NASA wasn't sure if they were going to let him fly so he opted out of the program.

The deaf reason is why I thought he finally opted out is the reason I remember as well.

I found this 53 page transcript of McElmurry's oral history as given to JSC in August of 2000:

Mac's Oral History

He was a great one, and will be remembered and missed by many.

quote:

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Rusnak: After you did finally leave NASA, you said you went and did some teaching.

McElmurry: At [Texas] A&M, and that was one of the most rewarding things I have done. The young people were absolutely superb, and there's no question in my mind you were doing something for them that was worthwhile. I still hear from them, to tell me they go married, they had a kid, what they're doing in their job. The way I teach flying is, if you're an Aggie, I teach you free. If you just pay for the airplane, then I'll teach you for nothing. Everybody else gets charged. [Laughter] So, some of the finest kids I've-I taught at the Air Force Academy for a little while. They're very similar from the course standpoint.

It's a super career. I would do that again if I had the choice, a chance to do that. Faculty at A&M, couldn't ask for better companions in the business, and that is a great school. If you have a kid, that's where you want to send them, or the Air Force Academy. I have a granddaughter in the Air Force Academy now, so I stick up for that school, too.

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Thanks for the post - he was a great man.