Spotlight Upon Unsung Heroes:

Dr. Von L. Burton, Jr.:

Space Scientist, Educator, Writer,Inventer

By Wilbur Thirkield Titus

I am very much impressed by our unsung hero this week. He is Dr. Von L. Burton 
of Huntsville, Alabama. He has had an illustrative career in the areas of 
Rocketry and Space Science, in which he has served 29 years with NASA, seven 
different organizations, and received fifteen individual awards. He has made 
memorable contributions to society, and, it seems to me, should be appreciated
and recognized as a good example as a role model for youth.

From Moorehouse College, Atlanta, Georgia, he received a B. A. Degree in 
Mathematics, June 1963, did further in Statistics at the University of Delaware,
May 1964 and June 1966; received his Masters Degree in Business Administration 
from Alabama A & M University and a Doctor of Science in Computer Science and 
Systems Degree from Southeastern Institute of Technology of Huntsville, Alabama
in 1986.

At present, he is employed by NASA and serves as adjunct professor of Business
(Statistics) at Athens State University, Alabama's oldest university. He has
received the Outstanding Teaching Award and the Excellence in Teaching Awards 
from this institution.

A survey of his employment responsibilities reveals that for NASA, at Aberdeen,
Maryland, he did statistical sampling and analysis of United States Army 
stockpiles of 105 mm Howitzer ammunition throughout the country. During the 
period of 1966 - 1971, he had the responsibility of "epitomizing the trajectory
for flight of the Saturn V moon rocket."

For the Marshall Space Center, he has been engaged in planning future advanced 
space vehicles, satellites and payloads.

He has an "United States patent for the invention 'Reaction Powered Generation
System with Power Load Variation Control Compacity."'

He wrote Lab Manuals for use with statistical computer software and innumerable
papers and research.

In the space allotted me here, I can only give you a glimpse of the man ... of
the magnitude of his "mine boggling" accomplishments in space technology, 
teaching, writings, and innovations. For additional information visit
http://www.vonburton.com/.