Moon Room
Behind the walls of Central Catholic High School lies something pretty special. There's a gift from 1951 graduate Eugene (Gene) F. Kranz, who happened to be the flight director for a number of Apollo missions, including Apollo 11 and Apollo 13.
A tiny piece of celestial history, a small chunk of a moon rock, on permanent display in the CCHS Kress Family Library.
The exhibit is one of the featured attractions of what became known simply as the “Moon Room.” The room was dedicated on December 6, 2007.
Earlier this spring, Mr. Kranz was a surprise guest at the Class of 2021 Senior Honors Assembly. The 34-year NASA mission-control veteran was in Toledo to attend a ceremony rededicating the Toledo Express Airport in his honor on May 22.
Mr. Kranz humbly described the naming of the Toledo Express airport in his honor by saying, “I don’t see it as having it named after me, but as a tribute to the team of people that helped me get to where I ended up. I wanted to be a pilot, and I had many mentors who inspired and challenged me, starting with the sisters at CCHS, my family, and my NASA co-workers. They are all a part of my success, and this honor is a tribute to everyone who helped me along the way.”
When it was time to enter the Sullivan Center to speak at the Senior Honors Assembly, Mr. Kranz was greeted by an excited group of students and staffulty. He talked about losing his father when he was young and about the sisters at Central Catholic who were very influential. They found him a scholarship to attend Parks College, an aviation school in Illinois, because he wanted to become a Navy pilot. He said the sisters taught him that failure is not an option.
“Commencement means a beginning, and this is a milestone in your life,” he told the senior class. “You will face uncertainty and challenges in determining your life’s path. Be bold, courageous, and steadfast. Set goals that will ultimately determine your destiny. Make no small plans because small plans don’t stir your blood. Without risk, there is no achievement or impossible dream to conquer. There is no obstacle that cannot be overcome with determination and faith in yourself.
“CCHS has prepared you for success by teaching you discipline - being able to lead and to follow - tolerance, confidence, responsibility - answering for what we do and what we fail to do - and teamwork. I wish you fair skies and tailwinds. Go Irish!”
Click HERE to listen to Mr. Kranz’ entire speech.
Eugene F. Kranz
From a very young age, Eugene F. Kranz developed a unique interest in space flight. Born in Toledo on August 17, 1933, Kranz formerly declared his interest in the subject by writing a high school thesis which explored the possibilities of flying a single-stage rocket to the Moon. However, after graduating from Parks College of St. Louis University with a BS in Aeronautical Engineering, Kranz's interests became more down to earth as he shifted from space travel to aviation.
After entering the Air Force and serving in South Korea, Kranz began work for McDonnell Aircraft testing missile launches off of B-52s at Holloman Air Force Base.
Responding to a "help wanted" ad from NASA in Aviation Week, Kranz soon found himself employed in 1960 with the newly formed Space Task Group at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA. From 1960-64, Kranz worked in the Flight Control Operations Branch developing and writing rules used by flight directors during manned space flight missions.
Throughout his distinguished NASA career, Kranz took on progressively larger and more capable roles within the general arena of spaceflight operations. When the Manned Spacecraft Center opened in Houston (now the Johnson Space Center), Kranz moved to Texas and became chief of the Flight Control Operations Branch. In Houston, he served as Gemini flight director from 1964-68. Between 1969-73, his other duties at MSC include: chief, Flight Control Division; flight director for the Apollo and Skylab programs; flight director for the first lunar landing (Apollo 11); and flight director for the return of the Apollo 13 crew. He also served as the flight operations director during the Skylab program from 1969-74. At the end of Skylab in 1974, Kranz was promoted to deputy director of Flight Operations and then in 1983 to director of Mission Operations. In 1994, he retired from NASA.
He lives with his wife Marta in Dickinson, Texas.
From: history.nasa.gov
Eugene F. Kranz, flight director, is shown at his console on May 30, 1965, in the Mission Operations Control Room in the Mission Control Center at Houston during a Gemini-Titan IV simulation to prepare for the four-day, 62-orbit flight. (NASA Photo S-65-22203.)