Great family that camped, hunted, fished, learned to swim well. My family was supportive in everything! Dad bought a canoe when I was three. It was the center of our family recreation. Mom and dad set a great example. They were together for 55 years.
I built lots of things (Dad was a cabinet maker and we had a shop at home). I was a skinny kid and not athletic at all. I built lots of things instead of playing sports.
* 6th Grade, I built a kayak from a picture in Earnest Thomas Seton book. I made a trailer and pulled the kayak behind my bicycle. I learned that a kayak should not have a round bottom!
* I built a couple of Kayaks copied from a salvaged kayak
* Pumpkin Seed hydroplane – Lots of fun with this project
* Sailing rig for canoe – More fun with this, as well
* Was Sea Scout– learned to sail a big boat
* Rockets, big ones with lots of support from engineers, machine shops (like October Sky movie shot in West Virginia). I was doing the same thing at the same time in Oklahoma.
Kids in my class nicknamed me “Verner” after Werner Von Braun.
* Air cushion vehicle or hovercraft: “Blowbuggy” 5’ x 9’ science fair project in my Junior Year in High School. Rules said exhibit needed to be no bigger than 48” x 36”. I ended up demonstrating it on the roof in the Student Union Building at the University of Oklahoma where the science fair was held.
1961 – 1965 Attended University of Oklahoma, graduating with a degree in Aerospace Engineering.