Biography
Homer was born on February 19th, 1943. He was born as a second child to his parents Homer H. Hickam Sr. and his mom Elsie Hickam. He was born and raised in the town of Coalwood, in West Virginia. He grew up and when he went to Big Creek High School he created his own rocket club nicknamed BCMA (Big Creek Missile Agency). This group became very successful and they ended up winning their science fair, and the national science fair. As he was growing up he faced a conflict with his dad. His father wanted him to become a mining engineer like him, but Homer on the other hand wanted to become a NASA engineer. He decided that NASA was his dream during high school. After graduation from high school, in 1960, Homer headed to Virginia Polytechnic Institute where he graduated in 1964. He graduated with a BS degree in Industrial Engineering.
After heading to college he delayed his ultimate dream/goal by heading to the military. He served in the Fourth Infantry Division as a First Lieutenant. He served during the Vietnam Conflict. During Vietnam he won the Army Commendation and Bronze Star medals. He served the army for six years leaving with the rank of captain. After his military service he was done with the military. He became and engineer for the United States Army Aviation and Missile Command. After that he was another engineer, this time for the 7th Army Training Command in Germany.
He finally fulfilled his dream and was employed for NASA in 1981. He worked for NASA as an aerospace engineer. During his NASA career he worked on training astronauts. He trained both American and Japanese astronauts. He trained American astronauts for many things. One of the things he trained them for was space labs. He also helped train the astronauts and taught them about payloads. He worked on space shuttle missions, he even worked on the Hubble Telescope. He retired from NASa in 1998.
During his life he became a very successful writer. His teachers always said that if he didn’t become an engineer he would become a writer. He wrote many books but his most popular book was Rocket Boys. Rocket boys was about his life growing up in Coalwood, and his teenage group BCMA. It eventually got popular that it was made into a movie called October Sky. This movie became very popular and after the movie he wrote a book called October Sky which was also about his life growing up in Coalwood. He also wrote many other books about his scuba dives to a possible future where the human race begins interplanetary travel. While writing his books he ended up meeting his wife Linda. Linda is an artist, he was also his first editor and assistant.
Homer continues to give speeches and displays to this day. Homer continues to plan to help consult in science projects. They have a home in both Virgin Islands and Alabama. They are a very happy couple and are enjoying retirement together.
After heading to college he delayed his ultimate dream/goal by heading to the military. He served in the Fourth Infantry Division as a First Lieutenant. He served during the Vietnam Conflict. During Vietnam he won the Army Commendation and Bronze Star medals. He served the army for six years leaving with the rank of captain. After his military service he was done with the military. He became and engineer for the United States Army Aviation and Missile Command. After that he was another engineer, this time for the 7th Army Training Command in Germany.
He finally fulfilled his dream and was employed for NASA in 1981. He worked for NASA as an aerospace engineer. During his NASA career he worked on training astronauts. He trained both American and Japanese astronauts. He trained American astronauts for many things. One of the things he trained them for was space labs. He also helped train the astronauts and taught them about payloads. He worked on space shuttle missions, he even worked on the Hubble Telescope. He retired from NASa in 1998.
During his life he became a very successful writer. His teachers always said that if he didn’t become an engineer he would become a writer. He wrote many books but his most popular book was Rocket Boys. Rocket boys was about his life growing up in Coalwood, and his teenage group BCMA. It eventually got popular that it was made into a movie called October Sky. This movie became very popular and after the movie he wrote a book called October Sky which was also about his life growing up in Coalwood. He also wrote many other books about his scuba dives to a possible future where the human race begins interplanetary travel. While writing his books he ended up meeting his wife Linda. Linda is an artist, he was also his first editor and assistant.
Homer continues to give speeches and displays to this day. Homer continues to plan to help consult in science projects. They have a home in both Virgin Islands and Alabama. They are a very happy couple and are enjoying retirement together.
Other Biographies
LIterary Works
Some of the other literary works of Homer H. Hickam Jr. can be found on his official website. Click the link below to see his books.