[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 62 (Tuesday, April 29, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E791-E792]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING COMMANDER McCOOL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SHELLEY BERKLEY

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 29, 2003

  Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, on February 1, 2003, a terrible tragedy 
took the lives of seven brave astronauts aboard the space shuttle 
Columbia. The second in command was Commander William McCool, son of 
Las Vegans Audrey and Barent McCool, and all of Southern Nevada mourns 
the loss of their son.
  Audrey, a professor at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), and 
Barent, a retired Marine and Navy pilot and UNLV graduate student, 
inspired their son to become a pilot. William, called Willie by family 
and friends, built model airplanes as a boy and followed in his 
father's footsteps to become a naval aviator. As a student at Coronado 
High School in Lubbock, Texas, Commander McCool aspired to be a pilot 
and he demonstrated his abilities and inherent gift when he graduated 
second in his class of 1,100 students from the U.S. Naval Academy in 
1983. Commander McCool continued his education, earning a master's

[[Page E792]]

degree in computer science from the University of Maryland in 1985 and 
a master's degree in aeronautical engineering from the U.S. Naval 
Postgraduate School in 1992.
  Commander McCool described his path to aviation as a series of doors 
of opportunity opening to him, first the door to the Naval Academy and 
then another to naval aviation. Then in 1996, NASA accepted Commander 
McCool for astronaut shuttle training, and he, his wife, Lani, and 
their three sons moved to Houston.
  Commander McCool's experience as a test pilot, and his reputation as 
one of the Navy's elite aviators, led to his opportunity to fly on the 
Columbia. Commander McCool dedicated himself to space exploration and 
to the progress of mankind. He brought his extraordinary gift to 
students in the classroom through a NASA Program that sent astronauts 
to speak with students. Commander McCool had a unique ability to reach 
the students and cherished this opportunity. Because of these 
opportunities to speak with students, he dreamed of retiring from NASA 
and becoming a high school science teacher.
  Commander McCool would be pleased to know that children name him as a 
personal inspiration. Children all over the country say that Commander 
McCool has inspired them to go after their dreams, to not give up, and 
to achieve. He taught them that you do not have to be extremely wealthy 
or a genius to reach one's dreams. Commander McCool was a regular 
person and believed regular people who set goals and work hard can 
produce great things.
  Space travel and exploration excited Commander McCool and he believed 
that the experiments on board the Columbia would improve people's lives 
on earth. Commander McCool and his crew mates were concerned about the 
environment and the well-being of people on this earth. The crew hoped, 
through their flight, to set an example for others as to the importance 
of working in harmony for the betterment of the planet, its environment 
and all humanity. While aboard Columbia, Commander McCool said ``I've 
had the opportunity to be on the flight deck, to look outside and 
really soak up the sunrises and sunsets, the moonrises and moonsets, 
the views of the Himalayas, Australia, all the continents.'' Commander 
McCool will be remembered for articulating to all of us his awe of the 
majesty and mystery of space, his dedication to advancing our 
knowledge, and his love for his family. As Audrey said of her son, ``He 
did not die in vain.''

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