Fred Wallace Haise

by
College Directory Columnist

May 7, 2010

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Fred Wallace Haise was born and grew up in Biloxi, a city located in Harrison County, Mississippi, in the United States of America. Pre-Katrina, Biloxi was the third largest city in Mississippi; but with its population losses following that storm, Hattiesburg now has that distinction.

Fred Haise had a strong education in public schools and state colleges. He Graduated from Biloxi High School, Biloxi, Mississippi; attended Perkinston Junior College (Association of Arts) (now Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College).

He received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma in 1959, and an honorary Doctorate of Science from Western Michigan University in 1970. He attended Harvard Business School, PMD Class 24 in 1972.

Fred Haise is perhaps Biloxi's most famous person. In April 1966, he was one of the 19 astronauts selected by NASA. Fred Haise never made it to moon, but his heroism along with his crewmembers, are among NASA's greatest stories.

He served as backup lunar module pilot for the Apollo 8 and 11 missions, and backup spacecraft commander for the Apollo 16 mission, and Fred Haise was a main protagonist in what is remembered to be the most spectacular "successful failure" in the history of the American space program.

He was the lunar module pilot on Apollo 13 (April 11-17, 1970). To get back to Earth, the crew of Apollo 13 had to go farther from it than anyone ever has. During this mission Haise has logged 142 hours and 54 minutes in space. What could have been a tragedy turned into a triumph thanks to herculean efforts in space and at NASA facilities on Earth.

Eventually, after achieving uncountable Awards, Medals and Special Honors, Fred Haise has left the Astronaut Corps and a career in the private sector to become a champion of education.

While most astronauts donate their souvenirs to museums, In 2009 Haise gave his moon rock to Biloxi's Gorenflo Elementary School, which he attended, hoping to interest youngsters to pursue careers in science and technology.

The rock was among some 842 pounds of lunar soil collected during the six lunar expeditions between 1969 and 1972.

Haise retired from NASA in June 1979 and held several managerial positions with Grumman Aerospace Corporation before retiring in 1996.

Fred Haise was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame on October 4, 1997 and has served as CEO of a major defense contractor.

In spite of all his achievements and heroism, today, if asked, for sure he would tell you he is most proud of his grandkids.

And he is still working, he is still pursuing his dreams and preparing, educating, and encouraging the new generations.