http://www.startstrongmonday.com/2009/04/07/fitness-wisdom-nasa-space/ Weekly 4 min Wisdom on Fitness, Nutrition, Motivation, and a Full Strength LIFE Thu, 08 Dec 2011 20:58:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 http://www.startstrongmonday.com/2009/04/07/fitness-wisdom-nasa-space/comment-page-1/#comment-248 Roland Vanzant Sun, 26 Apr 2009 23:37:04 +0000 http://www.startstrongmonday.com/?p=1218#comment-248 Dear Shawn: Forgive me for being long in responding but my other priorities got pushed aside with one that was immediate. I needed to respond to an urgent situation in which a dear friend, a member of my last church before my retirement, was dying in our local hospital. You communicated with me on the 14th of April and he died on the 15th. This set me to trying to minister, keep faith with his family, and spend several days preparing remarks to give at his commital service. Everthing else went on hold. He was a very special man whose life fits very well into our discussions. His name was Dr. Phillip Drash, a psychologist who used behavioral techniques to treat children with development disabilities. He was one of the early pioneers and behavorists who recognized the importance of communication skills for young persons with autism and helping young children develop their ability to communicate. As a doctoral student in the late 50's at Texas Tech University he worked with a team of behavioral psychologists and graduate students helping NASA train chimpanzees to go into space. I did not know him at the time. The efforts paid off during a 16-minute flight Jan.31, 1961 when a chimp named Ham pressed a lever whenever a blue light came on inside the capsule. America's first astronaut, Alan Shepard, launched into space shortly afterwards on May 5, 1961. Phil went to Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and then to the University of South Florida in Tampa. In his wonderful work with children with autism, Downs Syndrone, and cerebral palsy he really became the hope for such children. In 1991, he left USF to found the Autism Early Intervention and Prevention Center in the Tampa area which was the same area where I was serving at the time. That is where we connected. For the past 10 years he has had to battle leukemia which he has done bravely. I was with him, his wife, and children when he died on the 15th at the age of 79. The next day, the 16th., I also became 79. There is much more but I will close. I am just a great admirer of those who do good for people in the world and you fit into that category. Shawn, I want to thank you for your response. It is on target and helpful. Thanks for referring the book to me. It fits right into my approach to life and I feel confident it will bring reinforcement to my commitment to be as healthy as possible at my age. Thanks again for your kindness and thoughtfulness. Devotedly, Roland Dear Shawn:
Forgive me for being long in responding but my other priorities got pushed aside with one that was immediate. I needed to respond to an urgent situation in which a dear friend, a member of my last church before my retirement, was dying in our local hospital. You communicated with me on the 14th of April and he died on the 15th. This set me to trying to minister, keep faith with his family, and spend several days preparing remarks to give at his commital service. Everthing else went on hold. He was a very special man whose life fits very well into our discussions. His name was Dr. Phillip Drash, a psychologist who used behavioral techniques to treat children with development disabilities. He was one of the early pioneers and behavorists who recognized the importance of communication skills for young persons with autism and helping young children develop their ability to communicate. As a doctoral student in the late 50’s at Texas Tech University he worked with a team of behavioral psychologists and graduate students helping NASA train chimpanzees to go into space. I did not know him at the time.
The efforts paid off during a 16-minute flight Jan.31, 1961 when a chimp named Ham pressed a lever whenever a blue light came on inside the capsule. America’s first astronaut, Alan Shepard, launched into space shortly afterwards on May 5, 1961. Phil went to Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and then to the University of South Florida in Tampa. In his wonderful work with children with autism, Downs Syndrone, and cerebral palsy he really became the hope for such children. In 1991, he left USF to found the Autism Early Intervention and Prevention Center in the Tampa area which was the same area where I was serving at the time. That is where we connected. For the past 10 years he has had to battle leukemia which he has done bravely. I was with him, his wife, and children when he died on the 15th at the age of 79. The next day, the 16th., I also became 79. There is much more but I will close. I am just a great admirer of those who do good for people in the world and you fit into that category.
Shawn, I want to thank you for your response. It is on target and helpful. Thanks for referring the book to me. It fits right into my approach to life and I feel confident it will bring reinforcement to my commitment to be as healthy as possible at my age. Thanks again for your kindness and thoughtfulness.
Devotedly,
Roland

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