[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 192 (Tuesday, November 2, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1182]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE MEMORY OF JOHN EDWARD McCLURE

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. DON BACON

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 2, 2021

  Mr. BACON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of John 
Edward McClure. A true pioneer in what is considered the final 
frontier, John led the business development team that brought the ON-
STAR automobile safety and communication system to reality. Through his 
vision for the practical and purposeful application of what was then an 
emerging technology, thousands of lives have been saved and countless 
motorists have been kept safe thanks to this technology.
  John and his team helped exploit the nascent Internet of Things, or 
how machines talk to machines, to create ON STAR, one of the first 
communication systems to exploit this technology. ON STAR achieved its 
goals of providing security, enhancing productivity, and monitoring 
vehicle operation and maintenance for motorists.
  A true entrepreneur, John started numerous companies including an 
asset tracking company using GPS and other satellite technologies to 
monitor cargo and other materials in transit. Mr. McClure's quest to 
constantly push the boundaries of technology led him to focus on 
helping youth acquire a thirst for discovery. He mentored individuals 
and led student groups sharing his mantra that there ``are no Can't Dos 
in life, only Can Dos!''
  Combining his passion for aerospace and education, he introduced the 
NASA CubeSat initiative to a group of Nebraska middle- and high-school 
students. He helped pair them with undergraduate mentors from the 
University of Nebraska Lincoln. Together the team proposed an 
experiment that NASA has accepted for a future mission to orbit earth. 
Known as the Big Red Satellite Team, this group will carry on John's 
mission to have this historic-first CubeSat designed and built in 
Nebraska. The team will test cutting edge solar cell technology.
  Always looking beyond the horizon, John's ultimate goal is for the 
Big Red Satellite project to serve as a catalyst for the development of 
STEM careers and ultimately help build an aerospace industry in 
Nebraska. An accomplished fixed wing and hot air balloon pilot, John 
never stopped reaching for the stars. His words and his actions clearly 
communicated his primary mission: create opportunities that give kids 
an opportunity to succeed.
  John McClure passed away September 15, 2021. I offer my condolences 
to his entire family. John's many achievements will continue to impact 
Nebraska well into the future. A future that John sought to improve by 
helping young students discover their abilities and believe that 
anything is possible. His life's work has helped people in every state 
of this union, and his legacy of encouraging others to make their 
dreams a reality will be carried on by those he inspired.

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