For Black History month we are honoring Ronald Erwin McNair. Dr. McNair was a physicist and astronaut. One of the most poignant stories about him is that when he was 9 years old he attempted to borrow a calculus book from the local library in his segregated town. The librarian said that the library was not for black people and told him to leave. When he refused to leave without his book the librarian called the police. The building that houses the library is now named after him.
Dr. McNair was a brilliant and disciplined man, the second African American to fly in space. Among his many achievements, he was a 5th degree black belt in karate. He was one of three mission specialists on the Challenger, dying tragically when the space shuttle disintegrated shortly after liftoff.