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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
J. J. Naumann

James Joseph Naumann, Jr., AME

Born July 13, 1956, in St. Louis, Mo. Jim is the son of Mr. & Mrs. James J. Naumann, Sr. Jim began his career path with the defense industry, as a Design Engineer with the McDonnell Douglas Corporation, St. Louis, Mo. where he was attached to several programs which included colleagues Retired Astronaut Pete Conrad and Space Shuttle Payload Specialist, Charles Walker. After ten years with MDC, he joined The Boeing Military Aircraft Company and relocated to Wichita Kansas as a Project Manager. Five years later and after the McDonnell Douglas and Boeing merger, Jim returned to The Boeing Company, St. Louis as a Sr. Project Manager. During his tenure in the defense industry, Jim received numerous recognitions and awards for both his designs and projects he managed from both McDonnell Douglas Corporation and The Boeing Company, where his name appears on The Boeing Company Wall of Honor in St. Louis, MO.

Through his professional circles, he interfaced and became associated with several former Astronauts including Tom Stafford, Wally Schirra, Gene Cernan, Jim Irwin and, Walt Cunningham. In 1998, Jim witnessed Astronaut John Glenn's return to space on STS-95 and toured Astronaut Alan Shepard?€™s Mercury launch pad, and said a prayer at the Apollo 1 launchpad site. Jim attended the launch of STS-109, where he witnessed the launch from the VIP area with Astronaut Dr. Story Musgrave. Years later he attended his friend Col. Walt Cunningham?€™s 85th Surprise Birthday party at the Johnson Space Center, where he was reacquainted with friends, Retired Astronauts Alan Bean, Fred Hays, and Joe Engle as well as several of JSC Apollo Program Controllers.

Some of his memorable moments as member of the Commemorative Air Force (World War II Flying Museum) was participating in airshows with members of the original Doolittle Raiders and members of the original Tuskegee Airmen. He also participated in several airshows along with Gen. Paul Tibbets, Gen. Chuck Yeager, Bud Anderson and, Bob Hoover as well as with his friend, Capt. Donnie Cochran, who was the first African American, United States Navy Blue Angel. After 35 years in the defense industry, Jim retired from The Boeing Company and became an Educator at St. Louis Community College where he enjoys educating young people, with the hope that he can inspire his students to reach for the stars. And on Feb. 7 1999 the "Stardust" spacecraft was launched from Kennedy Space Center with Jim's name on board along with other well-wishers and, returned to earth on Jan. 15th,

Jim is a volunteer and member of several organizations where he has received numerous recognitions and awards; including the Commemorative Air Force, St. Louis Planetarium and Science Center, Kansas Aviation Museum, St. Louis Aviation Museum, The Boeing Museum of Flight, The American Airlines Museum, National Space Society, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, the United States Air Force Memorial, American Military Engineers, Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association, Experimental Aircraft Association, St. Louis Area Veterans Consortium, the Wounded Warriors, The Mission Continues, United States Marine Corps, The Marine Corps League, The Navy League of the United States, and the USO.

In support of the St. Louis community, Jim is the Founder and Chairman of the "Saint Louis Annual ARMY vs. NAVY Football Game Celebration" which annually supports the United States Marine Corps "Toy for Tots" Campaign. For his efforts, he was recognized not only by the Marine Corps Reserve, the City of St. Louis and the Missouri State Senate 77th General Assembly and, the Library of Congress.

Finally, during Jim's downtime, he's an avid Dry Fly Fisherman where he spends his time hunting Rainbow Trout with his fly rod. Most importantly, Jim is a Christian and believes deeply in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and has been a long-standing member of the Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church, St. Louis, MO. His heroes are and always will be, Jim & Georgia Naumann his Mother and Father. And to those who will someday lead the way?€¦Ad Astra!