[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 194 (Friday, December 16, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S8728]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO GUION S. BLUFORD, JR.

  Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, it is with great pleasure that I rise today 
to recognize Guion S. Bluford, Jr. for being the 2011 recipient of the 
Pennsylvania Society Gold Medal for Distinguished Achievement.
  Mr. Bluford was born on November 22, 1942, to Guion Senior and Lolita 
Bluford in Philadelphia, PA. Mr. Bluford grew up in inner-city 
Philadelphia during a time of great prejudice and social change. As a 
youth he spent his free time reading about aviation technology, 
building model aircrafts, and dreaming of flying aircrafts.
  Mr. Bluford attended Pennsylvania State University and joined the Air 
Force ROTC Program, receiving his FAA pilot license while still a 
senior in college. After graduating college in 1964 Mr. Bluford was 
assigned to the 556th Tactical Fighter Squadron in Vietnam and flew 
over 140 combat missions in Southeast Asia.
  In 1978, Mr. Bluford was selected as one of NASA's class of 35 
astronauts. On August 30, 1980, Mr. Bluford became America's first 
African American in space when he flew to orbit aboard the shuttle 
Challenger. During his career at NASA he flew on several other space 
missions, and when he retired in July 1993, he had logged more than 688 
hours in space.
  Mr. President, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. 
Guion S. Bluford, Jr., for his years of service to our country. I 
invite my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Bluford for his 
recent award and wish him well in the future.

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