posted 02-16-2025 08:31 AM               

From his family's obituary:

He earned a Ph.D. (chemistry, metallurgy) from Vanderbilt University in 1952 and began his career at Redstone Arsenal in the Guided Missile Development Division under the direction of Dr. Wernher von Braun.

In 1960, Dr. Lucas became a charter member of the newly established Marshall Space Flight Center of NASA. His positions included Chief of the Materials Division, Director of the Propulsion and Vehicle Engineering Laboratory, Director of Development, and Deputy Center Director.

He was Director of the Marshall Space Flight Center from 1974 until his retirement in 1986. His career extended from the early days of the U.S. rocket program through the foundation of the Space Station.

Dr. Lucas was elected to the National Academy of Engineering and the Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame. In 2009, he received the Dr. Wernher von Braun Space Flight Trophy from the National Space Club for his distinguished career in rocketry and science.

He was a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics, the American Society of Metals, and the American Astronomical Society; and a member of the American Chemical Society, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), Sigma Xi, and Tau Beta Pi.

He received many awards, including a NASA Exceptional Service Medal for his contributions to the Apollo 11 lunar landing mission and a NASA Distinguished Service Medal "for an exceptional career of dedicated public service."