Page 1 - Diamond News - Winter 2016-17

Winter 2016-2017 | Georgia Institute of Technology | Alumni Office | P.O. Box 80828, Atlanta, Georgia 30366
President’s Report Spotlight Robert S. Nance ’67
Alumni

GT DU Editor’s Note: For this edition of the newsletter we’re shining
Forever the Spotlight on Robert Nance ’67. From the hometown of
Richmond, VA, our past chapter treasurer set his sights high
s I write this, after graduating with a degree in aerospace engineering – and
ATech has just we mean to the moon and back! A dream that was inspired by
defeated Georgia President Kennedy, Bob was hired by NASA and worked in
28-27 in Sanford the Flight Control division at Mission Control. Two notable
Stadium. I had a achievements were helping with the Apollo 11 and Apollo 13
field pass with my missions. He worked in mission control, Apollo 13, and received
daughter Laura the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Richard Nixon. After
Rutledge at the leaving NASA, Bob founded a marine dealership, and after
last Tech victory in Sanford Stadium, and this he sold that business, he moved back to Virginia to help with
was just as sweet. A great way to celebrate aging parents. Following that move, he became sales manager
Thanksgiving, and I hope yours was great as at Richmond BMW and after retirement, a book would follow
well. – “It’s not Rocket Science, It is All about Faith” – which is currently in the publishing process.
The undergrads had sprinkler heads He and his wife, Patricia (Pat), have been married for 49 years and have two children, Christie
installed under the lofts. It cost far less than and Robert (Rob). Christie is a Ga. Tech grad who works for NASA, and is married to Jimmy
I expected, and I will sleep better at night Sauers, also a Ga. Tech grad. Bob and Pat are members of Bon Air Baptist Church in Richmond,
knowing the fire risk has been reduced. VA, and the Lord has blessed their family.
Our current 5-year mortgage comes due
in 2018. The goal is to pay off a remaining What was it like working for NASA? on the moon in July 1969. Those were truly
$100,000 balance so we own the house free Working for NASA during the Apollo and exciting times, and to be sitting on the console in
and clear. In terms of GT DU Forever, 2025 Skylab programs as a flight controller was the Mission Control when we landed on the moon
is about the time we will need to do a serious experience of a lifetime. In 1967, NASA was was totally a dream come true.
renovation or replace the house, which will an entrepreneurial organization. We were on a What was the most exciting moment for
then be 25 years old. mission to land on the moon before the end of you?
We have a GT DU Scholarship Endowment the decade and we were going to do whatever It might be the moment that I announced that
Fund with about $40,000 in a conservatively it took to achieve that objective. We flew the the engine had cut off, and we had landed on
managed ETF. The goal is to do a 5% annual first manned Apollo mission in October 1968, the moon the first time. In reflection, it had to
distribution for undergrad scholarships once circled the Moon on Apollo 8 in December, be the moment that I saw the chutes open as
the fund gets to $100,000. Contributions are tested the command module and lunar module the Apollo 13 astronauts were back from near
welcome. Many thanks to alumnus Ethan Lai together in March 1969, practiced the lunar disaster. It was exactly like it was shown in the
’12, who set this up. landing in lunar orbit in May 1969, and landed movie Apollo 13. They did add a little drama
We are setting up an alumni Strategic by saying that they were late coming out of
Advisory Board. The goal is to meet blackout, but we had already expected that it
with the chapter officers twice a year, would take longer. What I do remember was
and provide guidance and mentorship at that when I turned and looked back toward the
other times as needs arise. Email me at flight director, Gene Kranz, he had sat down and
Robert@McKeeman.us if you want to be on was praying. I will never forget that. As Gene
our SAB. said at the press conference that followed – this
GT DU Forever, was our finest hour.
How did you manage the stress from the
job?
Robert McKeeman We were so busy that we didn’t have time to
GT DU ’77 get stressed. We were working 70 hours a week
President, DU Continuum of Education reviewing engine tests, writing mission rules,
studying systems, going to manufacturers to learn
about the hardware, writing crew procedures,
Bob loves astrophotography, and here a few of his writing malfunction analysis procedures, and
photos made by stacking images. The middle image
is the Orion Nebula. (Continued on Page 4)

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