[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 27, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E1]]

              IN HONOR OF ASTRONAUT JOE FRANK EDWARDS, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. BOB RILEY

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 27, 1998

  Mr. RILEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the 
extraordinary accomplishments of one of Alabama's finest, Astronaut Joe 
Frank Edwards, Jr., of Lineville, Alabama, who is piloting the space 
shuttle Endeavor, which took off on January 22, 1998.
  Graduating from Clay County's Lineville High School in 1976, Joe went 
on to receive a B.S. degree in Aerospace Engineering from the U.S. 
Naval Academy in 1980 and an M.S. in Aviation Systems from the 
University of Tennessee in 1994. As a Naval Aviator, Joe has been 
honored with many medals, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air 
Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy 
Achievement Medal. Joe has also received the Daedalian Superior 
Airmanship Award in 1992, the Fighter Squadron 143 Fighter Pilot of the 
Year in 1984 and 1985, the Fighter Squadron 142 Fighter Pilot of the 
Year in 1990, 1991, and 1992, and the Carrier Airwing Seven Pilot of 
the Year in 1985, 1990, and 1991.
  In December 1994, Joe was selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA. 
After completing a year of training and evaluation, he has qualified 
for assignment as a shuttle pilot.
  During the STS-89 mission, Joe will be responsible for undocking from 
the eighth shuttle rendezvous with Russia's Mir Space Station and 
piloting the flight around the space station. The nine day shuttle 
mission objectives include replacing astronaut Dr. David Wolf with Andy 
Thomas who will be the next U.S. crew member on the Mir Space Station. 
More than 7,000 pounds of experiments, supplies, and hardware are 
scheduled to be transferred between the two spacecraft.
  Clay County, as well as all of Alabama, is very proud of Joe's 
exceptional hard work and commitment to space flight. I congratulate 
Joe on this extraordinary honor and am proud to have him represent us 
on this important mission.

                          ____________________