Gerald was born in Nebraska, shortly moving to Kansas City. He went to Troy and recieved a degree in civil engineering, then worked on B-52 variants for Boeing, as well as on a multipurpose fighter project proposal. In about 1963, he moved to Huntsville, briefly discussing his and his sons' experience in the city. After work on various projects with Boeing up to the Lunar Rover (including developing the rover's unique wheels), he was laid off from the company. Gerald temporarily went to Witchita, and worked on various other military projects, eventually going to work for Thiokol, where he would begin working in proposals. He worked on the engine shroud for the Caster 4B project, as well as the Maxis project (which he would briefly work on at Thiokol's Utah division before retiring early). In 1986 he got a master's in rocket technology from the Southeastern Institute of Technology, a UAH "breakoff". After retiring from Thiokol, Gerald did a variety of contract work in Huntsville, then worked for Nichols Research, finally retiring in 2000 (while still maintaining various hobbies). He shares a story about Thiokol's Thursday night golf league, and summarizes that he enjoyed the people at the company.
University of Alabama in Huntsville Archives and Special Collections, Huntsville, Alabama
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Dr. Stevens went to college at Bowling Green University and earned a bachelor's in chemistry, and received his PhD from Vanderbilt. He came to Thiokol in 1959, beginning as a lab chemist. He also spent several years working at Goodyear, but returned to Huntsville and Thiokol around 1966. He mentions the company's relatively advanced technology, and discusses his experience with the company's Georgia division. Generally, he worked on solid propellant projects. He left Thiokol in 1979 to work in Washington, DC, but would return to Huntsville to serve as the director of propulsion for the Army. He discusses the challenges of working with post-Soviet Russian scientists as part of the START program (as well as earlier experience regarding diplomacy with Soviet-era Russia). After his military tenure, he became the executive director for the North Alabama Science Center for some time, then retired, spending much of his time abroad.
Cecil was born in Anniston, AL, and his family moved frequently in his youth. He went to Auburn and graduated with a mechanical engineering degree in 1958. In interviewing, he found Thiokol very appealing for the passion of its employees. He provides a brief overview of Thiokol's contributions as excerpted from a formal paper. He began working at the division's Rocket Engineering department, starting as part of the Pershing team. Cecil would go on to serve in a support role for various projects, and served under various different groups for short periods, eventually landing in the Stress Nozzles group, then the Components Development group. He also worked on solving high-priority issues for the company. In addition to other various projects, he contributed to a techology transfer contract to Nissan in Japan. After conflicts with management, he recieved trained to become a chief of quality management at Thiokol's production plant, then worked on implementing the COPICS program which Carl Powe began. He continued to encounter various corporate management-level issues along his tenure. He stayed in proposal management for several years more than average, seeing a high success rate. Cecil also speaks on the continuation of the company's management club (in the for of the Huntsville Division Alumni Association), and the employees' involvement with the city at large.
Gene Thomas was born in East Tennessee, went to Tennessee Tech and recieved a degree in electrical engineering in 1956. Following several interviews, he worked in Birmingham for a brief time, then interviewed with and joined Thiokol. He was quickly shifted to the Pershing A-system, and worked on the project for several years before moving into designing different missile interceptor cases, as well as the space booster program in 1963. He discusses overseeing various issues with the motor casing production process, especially among distinct subcontractors of Thiokol, in California, as well as particular motor/casing development procedures and testing. He worked as a section chief from 1968 to 1975; in 1976, he was promoted to manager of the engine department, and worked on various major company projects. Gene also covers his experiences during the division shutdown, post-retirement activity, and his childrens' careers.
Jim Tucker was born in Madison County, entering the National Guard from high school (where he found much success in athletics) in 1950. He went to Korea in early 1951, serving as a medic. He went to work for Thiokol in 1953, working with the company until the Huntsville division shutdown in 1997. He began in the company mailroom, was promoted to the supply department, then to shipping and recieving, eventually serving as a buyer, then in a supervisory role. He particularly recollects how well he was treated, and the general enjoyment everyone seemed to find in their respective roles. Jim also reflects on his work in refereeing basketball, and organizing officiating through the state, as well as his Huntsville/Madison County Hall of Fame election, night courses taken at UAH, his responsibilities at the plant's closure, and post-retirement activity.
Tom Turner moved to Huntsville in 1960; his father worked on quality control for the Saturn rockets. Tom became a mechanical engineer, earning his degree from UAH in 1981. He worked briefly at the Air Force's propulsion wind tunnels, and joined Thiokol around 1985, becoming a test engineer. He specialized in creating thrust stands for various configurations of rocket motor, and describes the process of testing them, as well as diagnosing failures, providing various stories about his experiences and memorable rocket firings. He left the company in 1995, and currently works at the Army Propulsion Lab (first as a support contractor, then on a permanent basis).
Samuel was born in Louisville, KY, in 1936. He earned his degree in chemical engineering from Vanderbilt in June 1958, and joined Thiokol on the recommendation of Roy Willis. He began and largely remained in the process development & research departments, developing his skills into focusing on grinding oxidizers. He describes many of the methods for processing materials in intricate detail, as well as the machines used for them. Samuel also discusses some of the classifications of explosive materials, as well as his experiences with blasting pits on Redstone Arsenal. After Thiokol, he found employment with ERC.
Glen was raised in Montgomery, AL. He earned his BS&E degree from Auburn in 1957. He accepted a job with Thiokol but had to serve in the US Army Corps of Engineers first, where he supported the Redstone program and then Pershing. He returned to Thiokol to work in the Igniter Group. Described the different types of igniters. Praised the Safety Training and Procedures. Started graduate school and earned Master's in Industrial Engineering in 1964. Chief of Igniter Section. Fall 1972 left Thiokol. January 1973, joined Teledyne Brown Engineering to work on Skylab Program. 1974 returned to Thiokol to work in Proposals. 1977 Project Director to manage contracts. Became manager of R&D Programs, managed AFRPL (Air Force Rocket Propulsion Laboratory) contract. Worked on TOW 2 program, Mark 70 Standard Missile Booster program. 1995 career with Thiokol ended. Fall 1996, joined Madison Research Corporation as a Project Manager for 3 years. 1 year break. Returned to MRC to work on NASA contracts. Retired August 2006.
Lisa was born in Vietnam, and her father brought her and her mother to the United States. Her father retired in Huntsville, and Lisa graduated from UAH with a bachelor's in chemistry. Her first job was at Thiokol, from 1985-88,beginning in the liner lab. She comments on the percieved cameraderie and loyalty found between employees at the company, and shares the values found from her experience at the company. Lisa has served at various other companies by working and consulting, and advises listeners to find indirect or direct mentors, as well at offering inspiration to female workers.
Roy was born in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. When trying to complete an engineering degree, he joined the Army to avoid being drafted, and served in a communication reconnaissance outfit. After his service was complete, he finished his degree at Vanderbilt, and went to work for Thiokol-- first as a summer job, then eventually as a permanent position (in June 1958). He began work on the HAWK project, then on the Nike Zeus team, and eventually was assigned to the Advanced Concepts Department, working in both design and early computing. He would be briefly reassigned to engineering and "general proposal support". He was let go from Thiokol in 1971, and worked in the car industry for approximately a decade, working in parts and service divisions. Roy would return to Thiokol after this detour, eventually formally retiring in January of 1992. He also discusses his post-Thiokol employment, such as managing a religious phoneline, and bookkeeping; his personal life; and his hobbies, particularly aviation.