1988 NATIONAL SPACE TROPHY RECIPIENT
Hon. Don Fuqua
Honorable Don Fuqua
(NASA photo, 1982)
Profile as published in the Spring, 1988 program book. Author unknown.
Don Fuqua has been selected for the 1988 Rotary National Award for Space Achievement for his tireless and enduring legislative work on behalf of American's space program. While in the United States Congress, Mr. Fuqua was a leading architect of the governmental framework upon which the world's greatest space program was built. His efforts to insure adequate funding for our most important space programs were vital to opening this new frontier for democratic societies.
Don Fuqua has been actively involved in legislative activity for the U.S. space program since the 1960s. As a freshman congressman in 1963, he was named to the Committee on Science and Astronautics. This committee played an important role in aiding President John Kennedy's commitment to land a man on the moon. The committee was later renamed the Science and Technology Committee and Mr. Fuqua became its chairman in 1979. The Science and Technology Committee has responsibility for most of the nation's government-funded civilian research and development programs.
Don Fuqua also served as a member of the Subcommittee overseeing the U.S. space program and served continuously as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Space Science and Applications from 1971 until 1981.
During his 12 terms in Congress, Mr. Fuqua gained a reputation for being thorough in his work and study of complicated issues. His respected judgment allowed his to gather congressional support for difficult technical issues which fell under his responsibility.
Since January 1987, Mr. Fuqua has been President and General Manager of the Aerospace Industries Association of America, Inc. (AIA). In this position he serves as a leading spokesman for the U.S. aerospace industry.
For his work in space related projects, Mr. Fuqua has been awarded the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Distinguished Public Service Medal, the National Science Foundation Distinguished Public Service Award and the Robert H. Goddard Memorial Trophy.
The Rotary National Award for Space Achievement Foundation is proud to make Don Fuqua its 1988 recipient of the National Space Trophy.