Vision for Space

On a wintry day in February 1962, John Glenn rocketed into space, stirring the dreams and imagination of a young boy. Reading everything I could find while saving and collecting countless space mementos became a passion and way of life.

While, the Lennox Space Museum began as a joint venture with my sister, after a little more than 10 years of fun filled adventures, I was operating solo. As the collection continued to grow, my thoughts turned to a career in the space program. Lacking the courage to even think about being an astronaut, I headed for aeronautical college with the goal of being a NASA flight controller.

Just as the plans for space missions don't always follow the normal flight plan, my goal of helping to send humans into space got derailed because of serious eye problems. Every mission has alternative strategies, though, and successes happen when you least expect them.

"Vision For Space" tells this motivating story as well as giving you an interesting review of space program history. It also describes the creation of my space museum--a museum that is now called "the largest private collection in the Country." Tales of witnessing an Apollo launch, getting a personal tour of the Space Shuttle, meeting astronauts and the completion of hair brained and wacky schemes will take you on the journey through my very lucky life--the journey of an ordinary Joe.