The Westlake Historical Society is recognizing NASA astronaut and U.S. Marine Corps Col. Robert F. Overmyer, as a significant part of Ohio history by dedicating an Ohio Historical Marker at noon on Saturday, Aug. 23.
NASA’s Glenn Research Center Director Jim Free will provide remarks during the dedication ceremony that will be held in Clague Memorial Park, near the Gazebo.
Overmyer, a 1954 graduate of Westlake High School, joined NASA as an astronaut in 1969. He filled many technical roles including engineering development duties on the Skylab Program; support crew member and launch capsule communicator for Apollo 17; support crew member for the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project; NASA capsule communicator in the mission control center in Moscow, USSR; the prime T-38 chase pilot for Orbiter Free-Flights 1 and 3; Deputy Vehicle Manager of Columbia; pilot for STS-5, the first fully operational flight of the space shuttle; and commander of STS 51-B, the Spacelab-3 mission.
Overmyer retired from NASA and the Marine Corps in May 1986. He died on March 22, 1996, in the crash of a light aircraft he was testing.
A reception will immediately follow the dedication ceremony. During this time, visitors will be able to explore NASA’s exhibit, and receive a free souvenir photo taken as an astronaut.
For more information about Glenn, visit:
For more information about astronaut Overmyer, visit:
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/overmyer.html
For information about Westlake’s Historical Society, visit:
http://www.westlakeohiohistory.org
Jeannette P. Owens
Glenn Research Center
216-433-2990
jeannette.p.owens@nasa.gov