By Hugh J.
Congratulations on your 100th! I lead a simple life—without
email! I correspond via handwritten letters. As an introduction, I received doctorate in astronomy from the University of Chicago in
1953. I was employed at the Lockheed Palo Alto Research Laboratory (LPARL) from
1963 to 1986. I believe I was the first of several astronomers who worked
there. Some of my time was intended for profit, especially toward winning the
Hubble Space Telescope assembly contract. I accompanied one or more Sunnyvale
employees on trips to several NASA centers, where I made presentations for the
company. (My presence was mainly to “add
couth,” according to one of the group travelers.)
Lockheed treated me extraordinarily by permitting me to do research of
entirely my own conception and to travel to astronomical observatories and
conferences. Of course, I had to submit plans for LPARL approval and dig up
some of the costs. I published about 135 papers, mostly in the first-rank Astrophysical Journal, mostly alone, and
almost never with another LPARL employee.
I married my dear wife, Jeanette Ringstad, in 1951. We have traveled to
about 35 countries, mostly for astronomy and with no Lockheed funding for her. Retirement
is tolerable, except for old age!
