Foil: 30 Panel: 1 Column: 2 Line: 17

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Sponsor

Honored by:
Sonja M. Oglesby

Ted graduated from the University of Miami in 1959 with a degree in electrical engineering. Upon graduation, he accepted a job with the Army Ballistic Missile Agency (ABMA) at Cape Canaveral, FL. In 1961, ABMA was merged into the newly-created National Aeronautics & Space Administration.
Ted worked on many rocket and missile programs during his 36-year career, including Vanguard, Mercury-Redstone, Gemini, Apollo, and Space Shuttle. He was devastated when his friend, astronaut Gus Grissom, died in the Apollo 1 fire. He had voiced his concerns about capsule safety to Gus, but Gus assured him it was all right. Ted admired his friend's spirit and faith.
In March 1981, Ted was at then-named Dryden Flight Research Center (at Edwards AFB, CA) as part of the ground operations team preparing for Shuttle Columbia's landing. The success of this first historic Space Shuttle mission was a highlight of his career.
In June 1981, he began a new job as Deputy Manager of the Kennedy Space Center Resident Office at Vandenberg AFB, CA. He was named Manager in 1983. In the early 1980s, the Resident Office worked with dozens of KSC engineers who were on temporary assignments at VAFB, having been sent to prepare for the first West Coast Shuttle flight, in conjunction with the Air Force. Unfortunately, the Shuttle Challenger accident in 1986 brought a halt to the West Coast Space Shuttle program.
Ted retired from NASA in March 1995. He passed away Dec. 13, 2008, and is survived by his wife, three children and eight grandchildren.
His other interests included geology, photography, WWII history, trains and all types of aircraft. He loved to attend any air show; the NAS Miramar Air Show was a favorite. He always demurred when someone would describe him as a "rocket scientist," saying modestly, "I'm just an engineer." He had great admiration for the true rocket scientist pioneers - Von Braun, Goddard, Debus and others.
And he considered himself very lucky to have been in the right place at the right time to work with those with the Right Stuff, to help create an important part of mankind's history.