G.R.A.A.
        Goddard Retirees & Alumni Association
             P.O. Box 163, Seabrook, MD 20703

March 1999                                                                                                                         16th Year of Publication

THE BOOK: (G.Pieper) DREAM HOPE REALTY is a history of the Goddard Space Flight Center, written to commemorate the Center's upcoming 40th anniversary. You will recognize the title as keywords from Dr. Goddard's famous quotation "the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow". It was commissioned by the Center and written by Lane Wallace, a professional writer based largely upon her interviews with many former and present Goddard employees. It is being printed by the GPO and is expected to be available in May. This Book will be coffee-table size (app. 12" x 10") of about 200 pages many, with many, nearly one per page, photographs of the center, its people, hardware, etc. Some who have seen galley proofs of the book think its excellent. The text is organized around Goddard's many projects and really speaks to the spirit of Goddard in its first 40 years. It should make GRAA members proud to have been a part of such an outstanding organization. The center intends to present a copy to each civil service employee and many contractors intend to purchase copies for their employees. The printing run has 200 copies earmarked for GRAA members. The price per copy is not yet known, but is expected to be in the range of $20 - $30. At this time, it is expected that copies will be available through a book sale at one of our regular monthly lunches and by mail through GEWA. Details of the mailing arrangements will be in a future issue of this newsletter.

GODDARD FORTIETH ANNIVERSARY:
GSFC'S Public Affairs Office has announced the following tentative schedule:
                                          MAY 2     Visitor's Center Community Day
                                          MAY 3     Symposium Science & Technology Exhibits - BLDG 28
                                          MAY 4-6 Open House - Library
                                          MAY 5     Picnic -Mall
                                          MAY 6     40th Anniversary Luncheon
                                          MAY 7     Science Colloquium (Frank McDonald) RecCenter Party

MAIL STUFFERS FOR: Wilma Chigas, Milt & Helen Sing, Bob & Mary Wilson, John Steckel, Ewald Schmidt, Roland Van Allen, Bob Wigand, Frank Wrigley, Elaine Montgomery and Robert E. Wilson.

TREASURER'S REPORT: Donations were received from Henry Price, Ralph Mollerick, Henry luliano, George Bishop, Bob Wright, George Kronmiller, Helen Mitchell, Mickey Garrett, Tom Taylor, John Lyons, Paul Butler, Floyd Ford, Chuck Trevathan, Glenn Harris, Walt & Pat Hensel, and Bob Weaver.

LETTERS, WE GET LETTERS!
JOHN LYONS: Enjoys rec'g the Newsletter - He and wife Susan enjoy Durango, CO, with it's golf, skiing & wonderful year round sunshine - sends best wishes to all old friends and colleagues.
ROBERT EAVES: Enjoys receiving the Newsletter - happy to see the names of all my old friends and workers from the Tracking Networks - his opinion (unbiased of course) is that we always did most of the work at GSFC - still ranches/raises sheep, goats, cattle in Texas - Visits the Wylie McMillan family quite often -- signs off "Happy Trails".
RAY HARTENSTEIN: Sends many thanks for the news and keeping all "linked up" with old buddies, etc. Still enjoys Texas and retirement - plans travel to visit a daughter in Germany in April - sends invitation to anyone headed his way to stop by and "sit a spell".
PAUL BUTLER: Enjoys reading the GRAA Newsletter and all the effort put in by my friends up north while he is enjoying the sunny Florida weather - sure misses that Ice! Paul-thanks for putting up by Xmas lights-Alberta
TOM TAYLOR: Appreciates the work of all who live near Goddard for GRAA - He and wife, Roxanne enjoy living in the mountains of Utah. They have a view of a downhill race course for the 2000 Olympics.
BOB WEAVER: The monthly update of the GRAA and its activities as well as the Goddard Weekly - greatly appreciated.
GEORGE BISHOP IV: Enjoys reading the GRAA Newsletter - lives in Pocomoke City, MD
CHUCK TREVATHAN: Sends thanks for the opportunity to vote for the BD of Directors, also thanks to all the volunteers who are doing a great job of giving retirees a little glimpse of what's going on at GSFC. In reviewing the schedule of events, it appears that those who stayed close to Greenbelt have a real opportunity to share good times with old friends. For the past 6 years, life has been very enjoyable for Chuck and wife, Helen - is active in community and staying busier than retired people should - still has plenty of time, however, to visit with old friends who may come their way (Columbus, NC).

HAL THEISS: Sends greeting from Sanibel, FLA - He and wife Nola are docents on a 65 ft. Cruise Boat - this is your chance to hear about the flora, fauna and history of Sanibel/Captiva and the area around Charlotte Harbor from Ranger Hal. They also manage a rental (3BR House) - can fix up any one who may wish to stay.
ROBERT WRIGHT: Enjoys reading the GRAA Newsletter and the GSFC News Bulletin - only problem, doesn't recognize many names any more. After ten years of retirement apparently most of the people he knew are now in the Membership Directory - which he reads from cover to cover.
BOB & LUCY BOURDEAU: Sends sincere appreciation to those who keep GRAA doing so well - best regards to all those who contribute.
HENRY IULIANO: He and wife, Kitty, enjoy receiving and reading the Newsletter - Living in VA.
GEORGE LUDWIG: Enjoys getting the Newsletter - wishes he could join us at the luncheons - but he and wife, Ros, are living too far away in Shawneeland, just west of Winchester, VA - to make the trip practical. Their house is finished except for a few odds and ends - the house includes a large study and library - where George is having fun writing and working on the family history. The woodworking shop gets some use and there is always work to do on the lot. They are in excellent heath and enjoying family, home and friends.
PATRICIA M. & WALT HENSEL: Presently living in Bedford, PA - sends a special HELLO to Wilma and Tom Chigas

GRAA ELECTION: Thanks to all who responded to the request for ballots for electing the Members of the Board of GRAA - Beverly Lewoc counted the votes--the results are as follows:
                    Wilma Chigas                                Robert Wigand                                  Robert Owen
                    George Pieper                               Robert Morrissey                               Danny Dalton
                    Robert Wilson                               Paul Pashby

ROAD PICKUP: Equipment has been scheduled for the cleaning of the road after the Tuesday, March 9, 1999, luncheon - WEATHER PERMITTING - So please come prepared. There's a lot to do - The county requires a pickup at least four times a year - we must do at least a couple more before the first of June or we lose our title including the signs posted on Good Luck Road!!!! So see you there - Be a "SWATTER' on the Swat Team.

OBITS:
JOHN E. LINDER: Died in January 1998 - (Just rec'd info) - retired in 70's worked in the NASCOM Div.
GARY WALTERS: Died in January 1999 - in MD - retired a few years ago from the Special Payloads Div. For many years served as a technician in the old Sounding Rockets BR, and then the Special Payloads Div. In the early 80's pioneered the job of Field Operations Mgr for the Get Away Special Program. Also served as Field Operations Mgr for GAS.
PATRICK H. CUDMORE: Died January 17,1999 - Info sent in by Ralph W. Mollerick, who had the privilege of working with him on a variety of programs during the 70's and 80's.
BARTON HOWELL: Died November 22,1998 in Salt Lake City, UT
FRANCIS LERCH: Died January 11, 1999 - Came to Goddard in 1960 - Frank set Goddard on its current path for determining the gravity field, and over the entire course of his career, his models were the international standard. Frank left a legacy - the techniques he used to determine the gravity field and yield better orbits for Venus, Mars, the Moon, and soon will be used to orbit an asteroid. He was awarded NASA'S Medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement, he received the Certificate for Outstanding Performance, the Special Act Award and numerous Quality Increase Awards. Among other things, he was an author and co-author on over 30 refereed journal publications and was selected to write the "Status of the Geopotential" section of the US National Quadrennial Report to the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics in 1983. When helping write this report, it was discovered that the body of Frank's work was one of the most frequently referenced work in all of the Earth sciences.

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