COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine honored Col. Guion Bluford Thursday morning for his lifetime achievements for the state and country.
Bluford, who lives Westlake, flew 144 combat missions in South Vietnam as a pilot with the United States Air Force. He also made history as the first African American astronaut to fly in space in 1983.
Over the next decade, Bluford would fly three more times as a mission specialist aboard NASA space shuttles. His last flight was in December 1992
"Your commitment and dedication over the course of your career in aviation are a tremendous inspiration to generations of Ohioans," said Governor DeWine during the medal presentation at the Ohio Statehouse today. "As NASA prepares for future missions to space, the next generation of astronauts will be looking to follow in your footsteps."
In 2019, Bluford spoke with 3News' Leon Bibb on the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission that put a man on the moon for the first time.
"I met Neil Armstrong," said Bluford, thinking back to the days he talked with the first man to walk the surface of the moon, 240,000 miles away. "I still remember the excitement associated with his flying in space and I realize how fortunate I was to have been able to follow his example and eventually do the same."
Bluford has received many awards for his ventures into space as a specialist aboard the space shuttles. As for being the first African-American into space, he hopes his successes can inspire others to follow the pathways he blazed.
"I recognize the importance of that," he said. "I hope that I set an example to encourage other people to consider careers as an astronaut and as an engineer.
Bluford was presented with the Ohio Distinguished Service Medal, which is Ohio's highest non-combat decoration for service.
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