Larry Capps

The master of ceremony was USSRC CEO Larry Capps.

Here are his introductory remarks:

About 2:00 this afternoon the project team and I were huddled and it had rained all morning. It was clammy at noon. It was sunny at 2:00. And we called up three TV stations in town and got some weather advice. There was a huge storm system west of Mississippi headed this way, expected to be here about 5:00 this afternoon, and if we were going to be eating outside about 6:00, it would get wet. Guess what? [laughter; there were no signs of rain in the late afternoon/evening] This weather prognostication is getting better and better. [more laughter]

I want to thank you all for being here this evening. I'm Larry Capps. I'm the CEO of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and it is my privilege to welcome you to the Fourth Annual Saturn/Apollo Reunion. Let's give that a hand! [applause]

Tonight's festivities not only are a celebration of the success of the Saturn V restoration project, but also in honor and recognition of the original team that created the mighty moon rocket that has recently been moved -- at least the first and second stage of it -- into the new Davidson Saturn V Center [heroicrelics: the "Davidson Saturn V Center" was subsequently renamed to the "Davidson Center for Space Exploration".]

The restoration of the Saturn V rocket, as well as the construction of its new home, is finally becoming a reality. As we focus on preserving the rocket for future generations, it is appropriate that we pay tribute to those who actually made the rocket and made the moon landings possible. They sit among you this evening. Let's give them a hand. [applause]

If you worked in the Saturn/Apollo program, or flew on it, would you please stand. [more applause]

This generation of engineers inspired a new generation as well. And, beginning with this Reunion, we would not only like to pay tribute to the past, but also to look to the future. Would everyone working on the Ares vehicles please stand. And let's give this new generation a round of applause. [applause]

I'd like to extend a special thanks to the sponsors who made this evening possible, and please hold your applause until I call all the names. Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, would the representative please stand. SAIC. [food & beverage sponors, etc]. Let's give them a round of applause.

Also at this time I'd like to recognize some very special people who are with us this evening. They'll be introduced later in greater detail, but I just wanted to mention them up front. They are our speakers. Please hold your applause until I mention all their names, and you don't have to stand.

Dr. George Mueller, associate administrator of the Office of Manned Space Flight, 1963-1969, and his wife Darla; Col. Walt Cunningham, Apollo 7 astronaut, and his wife Dot; Dr. Owen Garriott, astronaut on Skylab and Spacelab, STS-9, and his wife, Eve; Jim Halsell, an astronaut who has flown five Shuttle missions, STS-65, -74, -83, -94, and STS-101, now works as vice president and program manager, Ares I upper stage at ATK, and his wife, Kathy; Steve Cook, director of Exploration Launch Projects at NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center, and his wife, Marqueta.

Bill Gurley, "William H.", group manager for SAIC here in Huntsville, but his better claim to fame is chairman of the Saturn V Restoration Committee, and his wife, Cathy; Jim Maser, president of Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne and our title sponsor for tonight's event. With us we also have a number of distinguished guests, including those who built the Saturn V; members of the Senate Board, Alabama Space Science Exhibit Commission; members of Saturn V Restoration committee, who worked, I will tell you, tirelessly to save our national historic landmark; elected officials or their representatives who are here this evening. They have also been instrumental in helping us save the Saturn V. Welcome all of them, please.

Speaking of Jim Maser, president of Pratt & Whitney, we'd like to again express our sincere thanks to you as the title sponsor. Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne and those who came from Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne this evening, and those who represent the history of Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne.

Jim came from SpaceX, where he was president and chief operating officer. Prior to this assignment, he spent 18 years with the Boeing company, where his last position was president and general manager of Sea Launch Systems Company, LSC. He also served as Sea Launch Chief Systems Engineer, and he was engineer of the Delta program, where he worked extensively with Rocketdyne.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am honored and privileged to present Jim Maser.