Fifty years ago Monday, John Glenn became the first U.S. astronaut to orbit the planet. Here’s a look back at his 2005 visit to the university.
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Former astronaut and U.S. Sen. John Glenn visited Elon University in mid April 2005 as the keynote speaker for Convocation for Honors and to take part in the site dedication for the Ernest A. Koury, Sr. Business Center.
Glenn made history in 1962 when he circled the Earth three times aboard the Friendship 7 space capsule, completing the first manned orbital mission by the United States.
During his campus visit, Glenn also engaged students in a Whitley Auditorium question-and-answer event. He was asked about the dangers, many of them unknown, of early space flight.
“There are dangers, and I’d be lying to you if I said there isn’t fear,” Glenn said. “But you have to remember the context of the times. This was the Cold War. We didn’t know when or if the Soviets were going to come into Germany and eventually try to conquer the world, so we looked at those early missions almost like combat missions.”
The site dedication at Elon featured the opportunity for university community members to sign a steel beam that would be used structural support for the building. Glenn’s name appears just below that of Ernest Koury.
At the ceremony, Glenn reminded students to follow the example set by the Kourys. “Almost all successful business people do something to give back to the community,” said the former senator and astronaut. “I hope you will do the same.”
On Monday, Love School of Business interim dean Scott Buechler remembered Glenn’s visit for the friendliness and generosity of spirit the former astronaut offered.
“He was gracious, articulate and motivating,” Buechler said. “He is an inspiring voice. He was 50 years ago, and he still is today.”