Astronaut. Born in Portland, Oregon, he graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1962 and was a decorated combat Naval Aviator during the Vietnam War. In July 1970, he was assigned to the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center as a Naval Reservist, Rear Admiral in charge of various flight test and research projects in support of NASA programs. He was appointed Chief of the Shuttle Training Aircraft Operations Office in January 1976 and selected as an NASA Astronaut in January 1978. During the flight of the Space Shuttle Discovery, April 12 to 19, 1985, he with fellow Astronaut Jeff Horrman conducted the first space walk which lasted for over three hours during preparations for a satellite rescue attempt were completed. He died in the crash near Earle, Arkansas, while flying a vintage World War II airplane. (bio by: John “J-Cat” Griffith)