Speeches and letters from Fresno State tribute to Columbia Mission Commander and Fresno State Bulldog alumnus Rick Husband

Speeches and letters from Fresno State tribute to Columbia Mission Commander and Fresno State Bulldog alumnus Rick Husband.

Welty Speech

Smits Speech

Fresno State Alumni Association Tribute

Student Body President Speech

ROTC Presentation

Fresno State President John D. Welty's Comments for Husband Observance

We’re here today to memorialize and to honor one of our own who was tragically lost along with six others when the space shuttle Columbia failed to return from its mission this past weekend.

Shuttle Commander Rick Husband was an alumnus who was proud of his alma mater and was willing to give back to the university that in some small way helped pave the pathway to the stars to which he ultimately traveled. A Bulldog to the end, Colonel Husband served as an example to all of us that we can accomplish if we only dare to dream.

From childhood Rick husband dreamed of flying, of reaching the stars, of becoming an astronaut.

In pursuing that dream, he graduated from Amarillo High School in Amarillo, Texas, in 1975 and then received a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Texas Tech University in 1980. He then earned a Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Fresno State in 1990, where in 2002 he was honored with a Distinguished Alumnus award. He was a father, devoted husband, a man of faith, a cherished friend, test pilot, a flight instructor and finally the astronaut he always wanted to be. He died living the dream he chose for himself, navigating the future whose course he charted when he just a child.

It was not an easy path to his dream, but it was a path he chose and from which he never wavered, taking disappointment and discouragement and turning them into the driving force in his life. He applied to the astronaut program four times before he was finally accepted, showing that he would not be deterred from his dream. And that took special qualities we all can learn from. Those qualities are courage and strength and determination.

Rick Husband had the courage to dream … the strength to pursue that dream … and the determination to persevere until he accomplished that dream.

That Bulldog determination serves as an example to anyone who believes a college education is beyond their reach; … it is an example to those who believe the bar is set too high; … and it is an example to anyone who believes that dreams cannot come true. If we learn nothing else from this tragedy, we should learn this: Rick Husband, through his courage, his determination, his perseverance has shown us if we aim for the stars, we will reach the stars … … if we dare to dream, we dare to succeed.

A Tribute to Col. Rick Husband: An American Hero

by Dr. Peter Smits, Vice President - Advancement

Twenty-one days ago, it was my privilege to attend the launch of the Shuttle Columbia. It was perhaps the most spectacular sight I have ever witnessed, and words are inadequate to describe the awesome wonder of that achievement. It was a moment of great jubilation and accomplishment.

The day before the launch, I also had the special opportunity to attend a send-off service at Rick and Evelyn Husband’s home church in Florida. More than 600 friends and family members gathered at Calvary Chapel to celebrate the occasion of Rick’s second trip into space, and to wish him Godspeed.

I arrived early for the service, so early in fact that I think the only people at the church were Evelyn Husband and their two children, Laura and Matthew. Before other guests arrived, we had a quiet time to reflect on their connection to Fresno State, and her excitement at the prospect of bringing back to campus the Bulldog sweatshirt he was wearing into space. She was very proud of Rick and excited about the mission.

The church service was a joyful celebration of Rick’s accomplishments as a father, a husband and an astronaut. The centerpiece of the service was his personal testimony, during which he affirmed his deep faith in God and his conviction that he was engaged in something special to which God had called him to do.

Little did we know that this joyful send-off would be so final. Now we are left to try and understand why bad things happen to good people, why such a wonderful hero had to leave us at such an early age.

We cannot reconcile the joy of his life with the tragedy of his death. We can, however, be comforted in knowing that the personal faith which carried Rick Husband into the arms of his God is the same faith which will sustain Evelyn, Laura, Matthew, his extended family and friends through this difficult time.

He would understand that we mourn his loss, but he would also want us to rejoice in the fact that he is now with his God.

FRESNO STATE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION’S TRIBUTE FOR RICK HUSBAND -- PRESENTER: Mark Astone, BS ’88, MBA ’00; Vice President

On behalf of the Fresno State Alumni Association, an organization that represents nearly 200,000 alumni that are located throughout the world, I’m here to offer a tribute in memory of Col. Rick Husband.

Rick Husband often credited Fresno State as an integral component in building his career. He was very proud of his alma mater. And, Fresno State was very proud of him, too. Just last November, we honored him with a Top Dog Award for his significant and worthwhile accomplishments that were achieved with NASA’s Space Shuttle Program.

Currently, our Board of Directors is planning a new Bulldog Walkway that will be located in front of the Smittcamp Alumni House. We will soon honor Col. Rick Husband with the first memorial tile to be placed there.

Winston Churchill once said: “Modern science is standing on tiptoe, ready to open the doors of the golden age.”

Rick Husband has opened such doors. We will always remember him. And, he will live in the heart of Fresno State forever.
www.fresnostatealumni.com

Statement by Ryan Jacobsen, Fresno State student body president

I join you today in honoring Col. Rick Husband and the Columbia crew who proudly served our nation and gave the greatest sacrifice of all.

Col. Husband is truly a star among the Bulldog family. He is an example of what we can achieve. I encourage all my fellow students to have the courage and dedication Col. Husband had in pursuing his dream.

Let his proud Bulldog spirit live through the lives of Fresno State students--past, present and future.

Let me end with the same words that President Bush spoke yesterday in remembrance of Col. Husband. One of his favorite hymns was, “How Great Thou Art,” which offers these words of praise: “I see the stars. I hear the mighty thunder. Thy power throughout the universe displayed.”

Statement by Lt. Col James Harper – Air Force ROTC Commander

COLONEL RICK HUSBAND WAS A 1980 GRADUATE OF TEXAS TECH WITH A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING. HE EARNED HIS COMMISSION IN THE AIR FORCE THROUGH AIR FORCE ROTC AND HE IS A DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE FROM AIR FORCE ROTC DETACHMENT 820 AT TEXAS TECH. AS A DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE, HE EARNED AT LEAST A 3.0 GRADE POINT AVERAGE AND GRADUATED IN THE TOP 10% OF HIS AIR FORCE ROTC CLASS.

THE HUMAN RACE LIKES TO EXPLORE. WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS OVER THE MOUNTAIN OR ACROSS THE RIVER. WE WANT TO KNOW HOW TO MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR EVERYONE. AS AN EXPLORER, COLONEL HUSBAND WAS LEADING A SCIENTIFIC TEAM. HE WAS TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO MAKE LIFE BETTER. HE AND THE MEMBERS OF HIS CREW PERISHED DOING WHAT THEY WANTED TO DO.

ON BEHALF OF BOTH THE AIR FORCE AND ARMY ROTC UNITS AT FRESNO STATE, WE THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN TODAY’S CEREMONY AND WE EXTEND OUR CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF THE ASTRONAUTS ON THE COLUMBIA.

THE 21 GUN SALUTE HAS ITS ORIGIN DURING THE 14^TH CENTURY AS FIREARMS AND CANNONS CAME INTO USE. ORIGINALLY SHIPS FIRED SEVEN GUN SALUTES. SEVEN WAS PROBABLY CHOSEN FOR BOTH ASTROLOGICAL AND BIBLICAL REASONS. SEVEN PLANETS HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED BY THAT TIME AND THE PHASES OF THE MOON CHANGES EVERY SEVEN DAYS. BY INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT, THE 21 GUN SALUTE WAS LATER SET AS THE STANDARD AND THE UNITED STATES ADOPTED THIS STANDARD IN 1875.

THE RENDERING OF THE 21 GUN SALUTE WILL BE BY MARINE WING SUPPORT SQUADRON 473 OF THE MARINE RESERVES LOCATED HERE IN FRESNO.

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