Astronaut. Born in Dallas, Texas, he was a former US Navy Commander Aviator and a experimental test pilot for the General Electric Company. From 1956 to 1962, he served as project pilot of J79-8 engine development program in connection with F4H aircraft. In September 1962, he was selected by NASA as an Astronaut pilot of the backup crew for the Gemini 5 flight and the command pilot for the Gemini 9 flight. On February 28, 1966, during an instrument landing approach flight at McDonnell Aircraft Corporation’s St. Louis plant, he with Major Charles A. Bassett, were killed in the crash of their T-38 jet. (bio by: John “J-Cat” Griffith)