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Dr. Ronald E. McNair, the second African American to fly
in space, was born on October 21, 1950, in Lake City, South Carolina. He
graduated as valedictorian from Carver High School in 1967. In 1971, he
received the bachelor's degree magna cum laude in physics from North
Carolina
A&T;
State University.
He received the Ph.D. degree in physics from the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1976.
Dr. McNair was nationally recognized for his work in the field of
laser physics. Selected for the astronaut program in 1978, he was the
recipient of many honorary degrees, fellowships and commendations. A sixth
degree belt in karate and an accomplished saxophonist, was the father of
the
children, Reginald Erwin and Joy Cheray.
Dr. McNair and six other astronauts died in a fiery explosion aboard
the space shuttle
Challanger on January 28, 1986.
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