NASA Stennis Oral Histories
NASA’s John C. Stennis Space Center’s oral history collection features historical recollections of former and current employees as well as members of the community.
Stennis Pioneers
During oral history interviews conducted by Stennis’ History Office, Virginia Seal Wagner, Wealtha Fortune Weaver and Jackson “Jack” Balch, Jr. reflected on memories of their fathers in conjunction with the center’s 50 years of existence.
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Family Ties
“I have never forgotten the promises [I made] that day in Logtown. I have kept foremost in my mind [the fact] that the people of Hancock County willingly allowed over 40 percent of the land area of [their] county to become a federal installation. In return, the federal government assured the people of Hancock County and Mississippi that the facility would be used. As long as I have anything to do with it, that promise of the federal government can and will be met!” —U.S. Senator John C. Stennis
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The Kellar Family
The enthusiasm for America’s space agency and connections to the Mississippi test facility are a Kellar family affair. Longtime employee Jeanne Kellar of Nicholson marked her 45th anniversary of employment at the south Mississippi rocket engine test facility and celebrated the occasion by not retiring. Four of her six children now work at Stennis, but each has worked at the center at one time or another.
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About Our Collection
This anthology of oral history interviews includes interviewees who participated in the Mississippi Oral History Program, the Apollo and Space Shuttle programs, Hurricane Katrina and Stennis Space Center’s 50th Anniversary. The entire Stennis Space Center Oral History Collection is located at SSC’s history office. For more information concerning this project, please contact Valerie Buckingham or Jessica Herr.
SSC’s 50th Anniversary Oral Histories
Jackson "Jack" Balch Jr.
This is an oral history interview with Jackson Balch, Jr., the son of the second site manager of the Mississippi Test Facility, Jackson Balch, Sr. This interview is being conducted on August 17, 2011, in conjunction with the 50th anniversary celebration of the John C. Stennis Space Center. The interviewer is Daphne Alford.
Wealtha Fortune Weaver
This is an oral history interview with Wealtha Fortune Weaver, the daughter of Capt. William C. Fortune, the first center director of the Mississippi Test Operations, now known as the John C. Stennis Space Center. This interview is being conducted on July 21, 2011, in conjunction with the center’s 50th anniversary celebration. The interviewer is Daphne Alford.
The Kellar Family
This is an oral history interview with the Kellar family—mother Jeanne, son Clay, daughter Susan Fendley, son Steve and daughter-in-law Rhonda—which is being conducted on June 14, 2011, in conjunction with the John C. Stennis Space Center’s 50th anniversary celebration. The interviewer is Daphne Alford.
Hurricane Katrina
Cheryl Bennett
Terry Bordelon
David Carstens
Denise Catone
David Del Santo
Deborah Jackson
Ken Human
Ron Magee
Mike McKinion
Bill Parsons
Miguel Rodriguez
Apollo 40th Anniversary
Ronnie Bilbo
Samuel Brown
Jeanne Kellar
Roberto Van Peski
Wanda Williams
NASA Stennis Employees Oral History
NASA Oral Histories
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