Robert Henry Lawrence Jr., was born in Chicago, Illinois back in 1935. He attended Haines Elementary School, graduating when he was sixteen in the top 10% from Englewood High School in 1952. He continued his education graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Bradley University.
While at Bradley he distinguished himself as Cadet Commander in the Air Force ROTC program receiving a commission of second lieutenant in the Air Force Reserve Program. At the age of 21 he was designated as a U.S. Air Force pilot upon completing flight training at Malden Air Force Base, Missouri. In 1965, he earned a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from Ohio State University. He was a senior USAF pilot, with well over 2,500 flight hours. He flew many tests in the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter to investigate the gliding flight of various unpowered spacecraft returning to Earth from orbit. His data contributed greatly to the development of the Space Shuttle. In 1967 he completed the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards AFB, California. That same year he was selected by the USAF as an astronaut.
What you may not know about Robert is that he was the first black astronaut, he was killed in a plane crash later that year.
NW Arkansas, come for a visit, stay for a lifetime.
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