Astronaut Robert Springer

Astronaut Robert Springer in 1982

In 1982, I was working for the University of Alabama in Huntsville in the Division of Continuing Education (now part of the College of Professional Studies).  My boss, Dr. Gary Workman, and I had been doing some research work for NASA.  Based on the connections we had made, Gary was asked to chair an annual NASA banquet that honored Huntsville's scientific achievements and major contributors to its technical success.  The committee that organized the event had asked NASA to provide a speaker, and they had nominated a newly-minted astronaut, U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel Robert C. Springer.  He would be flying in from Houston to address a gathering of several hundred attendees at the Von Braun Center.

On the night of the banquet, Gary called me just as Margo and I were about to leave the house and advised me that I was probably going to provide the shuttle service to pick up the speaker at the airport (I think Gary was subtly suggesting that I vacuum up any stray dog hair in our car!).  It seems that Colonel Springer's plane from Houston to Memphis had run so late that he had missed his connection to Huntsville.  He was now scheduled on a later flight that would arrive in Huntsville after the banquet had started but probably still in time to deliver his address about NASA's long term plans for the Space Shuttle and beyond.

The hour for the banquet to begin arrived.  Gary explained the situation to the assembled crowd as the Von Braun catering staff began serving the first course.  Colonel Springer had said he would call Gary to alert him when his flight from Memphis was about to leave.  About midway through the main course, the call came, and Margo and I left for the airport.

We greeted Colonel Springer as he departed his flight and took him immediately to the Civic Center.  Most of the crowd had waited, even though the last coffee had been served about an hour before our arrival.  Robert Springer delivered his prepared address and was very well received.  Then the fun began.

Margo and I had volunteered to take the Colonel to his motel.  But he hadn't eaten since lunchtime.  It's now after midnight.  In Huntsville, Alabama.  In 1982.  We thought hard about where we might get food.  Finally it dawned on us that the Shoney's at the intersection of University and the Memorial Parkway was open all night.  We were relieved to see all the lights on as we pulled into the parking lot.

      Astronaut Springer     
in 1990 

After we had coffee with Colonel Springer while he enjoyed some pancakes, we delivered him to his hotel and thanked him for his dedicated service (He had flown over 500 combat missions in Viet Nam as a Marine Corps fighter pilot.).

A few days after this event, Margo and I received a hand written thank you note along with an autographed official NASA astronaut photo.  We followed Robert Springer's NASA career, until his dream was realized and he flew on the shuttle on STS-29 in 1989, and STS-38 in 1990, after which he retired from both NASA and the Marine Corps.  We felt blessed that our paths had crossed under such unusual circumstances.