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  Mercury 13's Doctor of Science Degrees (Honorary)

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Author Topic:   Mercury 13's Doctor of Science Degrees (Honorary)
albatron
Member

Posts: 2732
From: Stuart, Florida
Registered: Jun 2000

posted 03-08-2007 01:36 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for albatron   Click Here to Email albatron     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Jerri Truhill (my adopted Mom) called me all full of pride and giggling like
a little girl to tell me she, and the surviving members of the Mercury 13,
have been invited to the University of Wisconsin (Oshkosh) to receive the
honorary degree Doctor of Science (honoris causa). This is a tremendous honor.
It will be conferred at the commencement ceremony on May 12th, 2007.

Author Martha Ackmann who wrote the book "The Mercury 13: The True Story of
Thirteen Women and the Dream of Spaceflight" will be the commencement speaker.

She is attending, as most probably are Rhea Woltman, Sarah Ratley and I
believe it's a safe bet to assume Wally Funk. ;0) They have not heard from
Jerrie Cobb.

Congrats to these fine women for some overdue recognition!

Andy McCulley
Member

Posts: 245
From: Lansdale, PA
Registered: Jul 2001

posted 03-08-2007 01:59 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Andy McCulley   Click Here to Email Andy McCulley     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Congratulations to these ladies for a well deserved honor

RISPACE
Member

Posts: 67
From: Warwick, RI USA
Registered: Jan 2006

posted 03-19-2007 07:56 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for RISPACE     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Yes, well deserved!

OOTWCook
Member

Posts: 18
From: Lancaster, California , USA
Registered: Mar 2005

posted 03-19-2007 02:18 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for OOTWCook   Click Here to Email OOTWCook     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
You Go Girls...........

albatron
Member

Posts: 2732
From: Stuart, Florida
Registered: Jun 2000

posted 03-19-2007 02:35 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for albatron   Click Here to Email albatron     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks guys and gals, I'll def. pass it along to at least Jerri T.

zee_aladdin
Member

Posts: 781
From: California
Registered: Oct 2004

posted 05-08-2007 05:09 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for zee_aladdin   Click Here to Email zee_aladdin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Here is a related story: College to honor would-be women astronauts

ColinBurgess
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Posts: 2031
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 05-08-2007 05:11 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for ColinBurgess   Click Here to Email ColinBurgess     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Apart from Martha Ackmann's excellent book on the subject, there's a chapter devoted to this amazing story in the recently-released "Into That Silent Sea" which Francis French and I co-authored.

medaris
Member

Posts: 181
From: United Kingdom
Registered: Mar 2007

posted 05-08-2007 06:58 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for medaris   Click Here to Email medaris     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
This seems like appropriate recognition for people involved in an important episode in space history. Congratulations to the recipients!

br62
Member

Posts: 122
From: The Frozen Tundra
Registered: Jul 2002

posted 05-08-2007 11:26 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for br62   Click Here to Email br62     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Eight of the Mercury 13 women (Cagle, Cobb, Jessen, Leverton, Ratley, Steadman, Truhill and Woltman) will participate in a panel discussion titled "The Sky Is Not The Limit" at UW Oshkosh on Friday, May 11. They will discuss what made them aspire to become astronauts and their personal experiences.

Martha Ackmann, author of “The Mercury 13: The True Story of the Thirteen Women and the Dream of Space Flight,” will serve as moderator.

Immediately following the discussion, there will be a poster and book signing with the Mercury 13 women and Martha Ackmann. There is no fee for admission.

For more information, please see:
http://www.uwosh.edu/mercury13/

This should be a real special event!

Bruce

Edited by collectSPACE Admin

albatron
Member

Posts: 2732
From: Stuart, Florida
Registered: Jun 2000

posted 05-09-2007 09:05 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for albatron   Click Here to Email albatron     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
On behalf of Jerri Truhill who sends her best, and thanks for all the kind words, I am pleased to report they are receiving attention like no other time in history.

I have been coordinating a meet for them with one of the US Congressmen from Wisconsin (Ron Kind) who will be drafting a proclamation for them in Congress. They're trying to meet this weekend.

The Houston Chronicle did an article:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/4782579.html

(you must've missed it in your local newspaper Robert )

A gent put an interview with Jerri Truhill on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gAp4w3BKgA

I've fielded a ton of requests for interviews (sadly they will not have time this weekend) - it's just been amazing.

And recognition long, long overdue.

I sure wish I was able to be there. Those who do go would you please report back about it or email me direct if you don't mind? Also if anyone gets any pictures, I'm sure the gal's would like to see them if you could send them to me.

It's my latest information after talking to Jerri tonight, that she will be attending, Jerrie Cobb, Sarah Ratley, GeneNora Jesson, Rhea Woltman, Kay Cagle and "B" Steadman also.

Cheers!

albatron
Member

Posts: 2732
From: Stuart, Florida
Registered: Jun 2000

posted 05-09-2007 09:16 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for albatron   Click Here to Email albatron     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I did forget, Jerri Truhill was interviewd by NPR also, who will broadcast it tomorrow (Thursday) on their "All Things Considered" show.
http://www.npr.com and then click ont he sidebar: "All Things Considered".

They will also be putting up a site about her on their main site.

eurospace
Member

Posts: 2610
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 05-13-2007 12:08 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for eurospace   Click Here to Email eurospace     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
For those interested to obtain signed photographs from the ladies, there are a number of nice high resolution shots from the event at the University website.

------------------
Jürgen P Esders
Berlin, Germany
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Astroaddies

Edited by eurospace

br62
Member

Posts: 122
From: The Frozen Tundra
Registered: Jul 2002

posted 05-14-2007 07:50 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for br62   Click Here to Email br62     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
This was an outstanding event. In attendance were Martha Ackmann, author of "The Mercury 13: The True Story of the Thirteen Women and the Dream of Space Flight" and eight of the Mercury 13: Myrtle “K” Cagle, Jerrie Cobb, Gene Nora Jessen, Irene Leverton, Sarah Ratley, Bernice “B” Steadman, Jerri Truhill, and Rhea Woltman.

Martha Ackmann moderated a discussion with the Mercury 13 women for about an hour and then there were some questions from the audience. After that they met with some local media and then began to sign books and posters. There was a very nice turnout from people of all ages, but I think the ladies were a little overwhelmed with the number of people wanting to get something signed and were getting pretty tired at the end.

Here is a link to an article on the event from the Oshkosh Northwestern.

There were many highlights, but some of my favorites were:

  • Jerrie Cobb's emotional reaction to the awarding of the honorary doctorates. She commented how they were so used to being rejected, this was very special - it was the first real recognition they have received.

  • Jerri Truhill saying she became interested in flying after a flight with her father at four years old and her father telling her that if she studied hard and became a registered nurse (required on commercial flights at that time) she could be a hostess on a plane. She said she had no interest in that, she wanted to fly the plane!

  • Irene Leverton commenting how on one occasion she was told she had to complete a test run at a pylon racing event in Oregon before the men would allow her to actually compete. Her reaction, she told them to "stuff it!"

  • Jerrie Cobb relating Vice President Lyndon Johnson's response for cancelling the Mercury 13 project as, "The country couldn't allow women in the space program because then it would have to allow all minorities in."

  • And the advice they all shared to youngsters in the audience to follow their dreams and never give up.
The pictures are from the signing session, in which the entire group participated. As far as I could tell, Martha added personalizations and short inscriptions to all books and "K" Cagle asked everyone's name who had a book and added a personalization and very nice inscription.

Everyone was extremely gracious, very personable, and a lot of fun. You could just sense that true trailblazer spirit in all of them. No question, they are a very special group of women and it was a real privilege to meet them. The truly have "The Right Stuff" and it is a terrible shame that our country never gave them the chance to pursue their dreams.

Jump if you ever have an opportunity to meet any of them. You will never forget the experience!


Jerri Truhill, Gene Nora Jessen, and Sarah Ratley


Irene Leverton and Myrtle “K” Cagle


Bernice “B” Steadman, Jerrie Cobb, and Rhea Woltman

Edited by br62

Lunar rock nut
Member

Posts: 911
From: Oklahoma city, Oklahoma U.S.A.
Registered: Feb 2007

posted 05-15-2007 07:09 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Lunar rock nut   Click Here to Email Lunar rock nut     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Another nice story of recognition for these lovely ladies. Here.
Edited by Lunar rock nut

Andy
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Posts: 32
From:
Registered: Aug 2002

posted 05-15-2007 07:52 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Andy   Click Here to Email Andy     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
This is all very nice, but with all due respect, this is all way over hyped.

They were never part of any program. They never (TMK) did any astronaut-specific training, just med/psych testing. Lovelace did the testing as a private effort, without NA[S]A's knowledge or approval. There was never any intent, or presumed offer, by NA[S]A (or the White House, for that matter) for these ladies to be trained, or fly, as astronauts.

I mean, this all great, and no offense to the ladies, but this is a little out of control, asking Congress for recognition for....uh, what exactly?

albatron
Member

Posts: 2732
From: Stuart, Florida
Registered: Jun 2000

posted 05-15-2007 08:20 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for albatron   Click Here to Email albatron     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Some of what you say is true my friend, but they pioneered greatly. Maybe little as far as the space program, but their efforts in moving women ahead.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42986
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 05-15-2007 09:00 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Jim Oberg wrote a column for The Space Review that was published yesterday about the Mercury 13 and "setting the record straight," in light of the recent media coverage.

albatron
Member

Posts: 2732
From: Stuart, Florida
Registered: Jun 2000

posted 05-15-2007 03:49 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for albatron   Click Here to Email albatron     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Cheered you up to type that eh Rob?

Thing is, there IS a lot of hype with them. Mostly from the feminist style/related groups, and there has been from one or two of their own too.

I do believe becoming informed you can easily get the real story. And that in and of itself, is very interesting, as Oberg himself said at one point.

His article was written well, but I saw some "agenda" of his own in it, and some wording that could have been better.

But then I too am prejudiced.

Was this honoring a lot of hyperbole and nonsense?

That's certainly up to you to judge, but I for one do not want to rain on these gal's parade. I know t most of them, and quite well.

But feel free if that's what you wish to do.

If you ever talk to any of these gal's, I think you'd be surprised at their feelings on the whole issue. Most of them have put this in perspective far better than anyone here, I promise you.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42986
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 05-15-2007 04:23 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I take no exception with their honor, and I applaud them for it. However, like Andy and Oberg, I did feel that some of my fellow journalists were a bit too loose and fast with their history and that in turn was a disservice to the women of the Mercury 13 and their legacy. They should be celebrated and honored for their accomplishments, which require absolutely no embellishment. Their role in aviation and space history is well documented and I only wish the Associated Press and others would have chosen to focus on their record rather than trying to spin more politically-motivated headlines.

albatron
Member

Posts: 2732
From: Stuart, Florida
Registered: Jun 2000

posted 05-15-2007 08:45 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for albatron   Click Here to Email albatron     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
No argument from me there. And of course, the use of journalist in some cases, is well, generous as well.

br62
Member

Posts: 122
From: The Frozen Tundra
Registered: Jul 2002

posted 05-15-2007 10:24 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for br62   Click Here to Email br62     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Very well said Robert and Al.

My one suggestion is Oberg should be a little more diligent himself in practicing what he preaches in terms of reporting things accurately. A simple Internet search would reveal that WFRV is the CBS affiliate for Green Bay, Wisconsin - not Oshkosh as stated in his article.

Well, he was only about 50 miles off.
LOL

Edited by br62

All times are CT (US)

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