Fresno State honors former Bulldog who died in shuttle disaster

By KIM BACA
Associated Press Writer

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) Air Force Col. Rick Husband, commander of the Columbia, was remembered by his alma mater Wednesday as a courageous man who dared to dream.

``It was not an easy path to his dream, but it was a path he chose from which he never wavered, taking disappointment and discouragement and turning them into the driving force in his life,'' said John D. Welty, president of California State University, Fresno.

With two fighter jets from the 144th Fighter Wing flying overhead, the Fresno State community gathered to pay tribute to Husband, 45, who died when the shuttle broke up as it returned to earth Saturday.

Husband earned his master's degree in mechanical engineering through Fresno State's extension program in 1990 while stationed at Edwards Air Force Base.

The native of Amarillo, Texas, who was also honored as a devoted father and husband, took a red Fresno State sweatshirt on the mission.

From childhood, Welty said Husband dreamed of being an astronaut. Husband earned a bachelor's in mechanical engineering from Texas Tech in 1980 before becoming a Bulldog.

But Husband's career path wasn't easy. He applied to NASA's astronaut program four times before being accepted perseverance Welty said Fresno State students can learn from.

``A proud Bulldog to the end, Colonel Husband served as an example to all that we can accomplish if we only dare to dream,'' Welty said.

Peter Smits, a university vice president who attended the launch at the Kennedy Space Center last month, said while many may question why bad things happen to good people, they should be comforted that the deeply religious astronaut is at rest.

``He would understand that we mourn his loss, but he would also want us to rejoice in the fact that he is now with his God,'' Smits said.

A Fresno State faculty member sang ``Amazing Grace,'' a song reportedly played to wake the crew on the day the shuttle returned to Earth.

Gov. Gray Davis said Husband, who is survived by his wife, Evelyn, 12-year-old daughter Laura and 7-year-old son Matthew, will continue to inspire Californians.

Fresno State ``lost one of its own in Colonel Rick Husband,'' Davis wrote in a letter read by Welty. ``But I know that the memory of his extraordinary dedication and work will forever live on in the lives he touched.''

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)