Foil: 63 Panel: 3 Column: 3 Line: 100

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Mr. Daniel L. Ely

Col. Lawrence D. Ely was born in 1906 in Sturgis, MI. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1932 with an Aeronautical Engineering degree. He was department chair of aeronautical engineering at Tri-State College (now Triune University) in Angola, IN. He received a Master of Science degree in Aeronautics from the California Institute of Technology in 1945 and graduated 1st in his class. He joined the Army/Air Force in 1939 and he was a research director involved in aircraft and missile design. He was assigned to the Pentagon 1951-55. In 1959 he was awarded the Legion of Merit for his work on nose cone design and propulsion systems for the Thor, Atlas, Titan ICBMs and lunar probe and deep space planning. He has written numerous technical and career oriented books. He was glider pilot and trained pilots to fly the large gliders for troops for D-Day. His hobbies included stamp collecting, photography and competitive soaring. He was a family man and loved dearly by his wife, Katherine and family.