Billy McClure

Billy B. McClure Titusville Bill McClure, 85, of Titusville, FL went home to
be with the Lord on Wednesday, April 15, 2009. Beloved husband, father,
grandfather, great-grandfather, and devoted Christian, he is survived by
wife, Martha, of 63 years; daughters, Pat (Jeremy) Laakso and Linda (Adrian)
Smith; son, Billy (Sue); 12 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren;
sister, Judy and brothers, Jimmie and Winn, and extended family. A Decorated
American World War II veteran of the 82nd Airborne 508, PIR, Co. D., was
born March 16, 1924 in Wichita Falls, TX. He was an All- American
Paratrooper, part of the Normandy D-Day Invasion and General Eisenhower
Honor Guard. He was recommended for the Silver Star and received the Purple Heart, Bronze Star,
Eagle Scout Order of the Arrow. He retired after 31 years of service from
General Dynamics Convair: and was the first recipient of the NASA
Exceptional Bravery Award. Celebration of Life Serv ice, will be held
Saturday, April 18, at 2 p.m. (View ing), with a 3 p.m., Service and a
Reception to follow at Westside Baptist Church, 2802 Tropic Street,
Titusville. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Westside
Baptist Church, Mission Fund (321) 267-7064.
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In
1969 McClure was one of two men honored with the first NASA Medal for
Exceptional Bravery.
The medal is given for exemplary and courageous handling of
an emergency in NASA program activities by an individual who, independent of
personal danger, has acted to prevent the loss of human life or government
property.
In McClure's case, he and fellow propulsion technician Charles
Beverlin, were cited for their fast thinking action at the risk of their own
lives to close critical valves and preventing the destruction of a tilting
Atlas-Centaur rocket destined for the Mariner 6 Mars mission. Click to
Read Spaceport
News articleThe medal has only been awarded to
two others since, one in 1970 and the other in 1974 |