by Norman B.
When I employed at Lockheed in Sunnyvale, California, Gene Root was president
of the missile division. In 1962, Gene also was president of the Institute of
Aeronautical Sciences (IAS), the vintage professional organization for airplane
flight. He and William Pickering of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and president
of the American Rocket Society agreed the two organizations should merge to
become the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).
When Gene was president of IAS, I served as chair of the San Francisco section.
When it became evident that Gene was leading the merger effort on behalf of IAS
personally, my council members were asked to start “talking -it-up.” Council members thought the merger should occur,
and readily agreed to start immediately informing section members why the
merger should occur.
Soon after this promotional council meeting, Gene got to me personally
with the request that our section should promote the merger. “Already started,” he was told. Gene
said, “You are the first person to give
me what I wanted before I asked for it!” My reply was “Gene I didn’t want you stepping on my heels.” His retort was, “Norm, you have not had your heels stepped on
until you have had them stepped on by Dan Haughton.” Mr. Haughton was president
of Lockheed Aircraft Corporation. I’ll never forget that conversation!
