John William Kiker
August 4, 1925-May 6, 2005

John W. Kiker passed away on May 6 2005.
He became a good friend to Sue and myself.
We will miss him dearly.


God Speed

These photos are from one of my visits with Mr. John Kiker.
John is the grandfather of my son Jeff's wife, Marianne.
John worked for NASA for over 30 years.
Working for NASA, John was Chief, Mechanisms Branch, Spacecraft Design Division.
One of John most notable achievements while at JSC was the concept and
theory development of the aerodynamics, systems, support and substructures
to aircraft and orbiter necessary to fly the shuttle on top of the 747.
This idea, his entirely, saved the manned space program over $40,000,000
and endless delay over the methods under consideration at the time.
His accomplishments are many.
Please check out ...
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/history/oral_histories/KikerJW/JWK_BIO.pdf

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles;
they shall run, and not be weary;
and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31

High Flight

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds -- and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of -- wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long, delirious burning blue,
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew.
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

-- RCAF Flight-Lieutenant John Gillespie Magee Jr.
(1922-1941).