The future was looking up
Fifty years ago, Beacon Journal reporters asked local students for their reactions to Ohio astronaut John Glenn’s historic spaceflight. Here are some of those responses from Feb. 20, 1962:
■ Tom Buess, 17, of Tallmadge: “I was really impressed with John Glenn, as I have been with all the astronauts. They are confident gentlemen, almost overconfident. But their abilities merit such confidence. I think we have a long way to go to catch the Russians, but our prestige was boosted throughout the world with this great scientific achievement.”
■ Lamont Carpenter, 17, of Akron: “Personally, I didn’t think he would come back this time. Three times around the Earth just seemed almost impossible. I think this proves we can get to the planets. I think we may do it in about seven years.”
■ Dick Kaufman, 8, of Akron: “I wouldn’t like to be up there with him. You have to have a lot of guts to go up. I’m going to join the Marines so I can stay on the ground.”
■ Anna Thomann, 15, of Akron: “I would like to go around the Earth a couple of times. I think it would be a great accomplishment for a girl to do it. I wouldn’t do it for the publicity. I’d do it as an adventure, as something few people have done.”
■ William Holsberry, 11, of Akron: “I would like to do that. Pretty soon they will have all kinds of rockets and the trip will go fast. It would be a lot safer than if I’d go up today.”
■ Cheryl Payne, 15, of Akron: “I don’t think God has a place for us on those planets. I don’t think we have any business there.”
■ Tim Sullivan, 17, of Ravenna: “Glenn’s flight was a unifying force for the nation.”
■ Sharon Miller, 17, of Valley City: “I’m sure the United States has learned a lot and it has increased our prestige all over the world.”
■ Greg Price, 17, of Cuyahoga Falls: “If we’re still behind the Russians in space, we are catching up and will surpass them in the future.”
■ Robert Copella, 18, of Twin Lakes: “The value of the feat lay in the open and free coverage of the event since we weren’t the first to get a man in space.”
■ George Letz, 17, of Akron: “I like the way we keep everyone informed because everyone has a part in the project. The Russians to me don’t seem to have any consideration for life. We don’t know how many times they failed before they were successful.”
■ Sue Ann Grimm, 15, of Akron: “I think the important thing is that we do it and do it right. That is all that counts, not getting ahead of the Russians.”
■ Sheldon Saferstein, 10, of Akron: “Next we will probably go about 10 orbits and shoot for the moon.”
■ Bonnie McCormick, 17, of Cuyahoga Falls: “I’d love to go [to the moon]. It’s certain we’ll do it within the next 50 years and I hope I’m around to do it.”
— MARK J. PRICE
