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Campus tribute honors Col. Rick Husband

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Col. Husband's photo graced a signing board
on which the campus community expressed sentiments about the tragedy.

The university community paid

tribute to its fallen alumnus, Air

Force Col. Rick Husband, in a touching ceremony in the Peace Garden on Feb. 5.

Several hundred people from the campus and community gathered for the tribute in memory of the former Bulldog, who was the commander of the ill-fated Columbia space shuttle, and his six-member crew lost Feb. 1.

University President John D. Welty said Husband "died living the dream he chose for himself, navigating the future whose course he charted when he was just a child." Welty also praised Husband's determination, pointing out that he applied to the astronaut program four times before he was accepted.

"It was not an easy path to his dream, but it was a path he chose from which he never wavered, taking disappointment and discouragement and turning them into the driving force in his life," the president said.

"Rick Husband had the courage to dream, the strength to pursue that dream and the determination to persevere until he accomplished that dream," said Welty. "If we learn nothing else from this tragedy, we should learn this: Rick Husband has shown us if we aim for the stars, we will reach the stars. If we dare to dream, we dare to succeed."

Dr. Peter N. Smits, vice president of advancement, attended the launch of the Columbia on Jan. 16 at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at the invitation of Husband. The night before, Smits attended a church service during which Husband "affirmed his deep faith in God and his conviction that he was doing something special to which God had called him to do."

"He would understand that we mourn his loss, but he would also want us to rejoice in the fact that he is now with his God," Smits said at the tribute.

Mark Astone, vice president of the Fresno State Alumni Association, said the organization is planning a "Bulldog Walkway" in front of the Smittcamp Alumni House. He said Husband will be honored with the first memorial tile. It will read: "HE TOUCHED THE FACE OF GOD, In Memory of COL. RICK HUSBAND, MS '90; Commander, NASA, Space Shuttle STS-107, Columbia, February 1, 2003."

Other speakers were Ryan Jacobsen, student body president; Dr. Karl Longley, dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science; and Lt. Col. James Harper, commander of the Fresno State Air Force ROTC.

The 144th Fighter Wing of the California Air Guard of Fresno provided a two-ship flyover and the U.S. Marines Corps performed a gun-salute.

The National Anthem was performed by the Fresno State Men's Quartet, student musicians from the university's Music Department. Kathy Washington of Plant Operations sang "Amazing Grace."

Dr. Ed EmanuEl, Fresno State Theater Arts professor, recited two verses of the hymn,  "Eternal Father Strong to Save" accompanied by Dr. Deiter Wulfhorst, cellist, and Dr. Susan Doering, violinist, from the Fresno State music faculty.

In 1990, Husband earned his master's degree through Fresno State's Edward Air Force Base extension program in engineering; he was member of the Air Force ROTC during his undergraduate years at Texas Tech.

A sign-on board that drew hundreds of responses honoring Col. Husband will be sent to his family.

In another tribute, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, which houses the Edwards Air Force Base extension program where Col. Husband earned his master's degree, named its NASA-related Hovercraft project "The Spirit of Columbia" in honor of the seven astronauts.

Back to University Journal, 3/03 Issue