“Before you can make a dream come true, you must first have one.” – Dr. Ronald E McNair.

On January 28, 1986 a distinguished A&T alumni passed away. Dr. Ronald E Mcnair epitomized the phrase AGGIE PRIDE. He had dreams and shot for the stars. He was a NASA astronaut logged 191 hours in space and was posthumously awarded the congressional Space Medal of Honor.

It is only right to honor this great man. McNair was born in Lake City, S.C. on October 21, 1950 and did more in his 36 years of life than some could do in two lifetimes.

After graduating from Carver High School, McNair made his way to Aggieland receiving his degree in physics from A&T in 1971, and a Ph.D. in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1977. He was also honored with honorary doctorates in 1978, 1980 and 1984.

A fifth degree black belt, member of Omega Psi Phi, saxophone player, boxer, football player, and cook. McNair lived his life to the fullest.

His presence on this campus was a blessing and the Aggies that are coming up in the gigantic footprint he left behind should realize the possibilities available to them and strive to make things happen for themselves.

McNair will never be forgotten and uplifted during this time of the reflection. He made his own dreams come true and set an example that is a beacon to every student that enrolls with the hope of making a difference in the world.

Ronald McNair was the husband of life Cheryl and father of two children. A&T owes part of its legacy to McNair.

Today his legacy lives on through the Dr. Ronald E. McNair Foundation ran by his brother Carl, which works to dedicated to developing and implementing educational programs that motivate and encourage students to pursue careers in Science, Mathematics and Technology.

Carl travels the country to tell the story of his brother, who died when the Challenger Space Shuttle exploded just a minute into it’s flight. With speaking engagements at Georgia State, Florida A&M and Alabama in the coming months.

The McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program, which is on 179 campuses nationwide.

That program awards research money and internships to first-generation and otherwise underrepresented students in preparation for graduate work.

Grade schools bearing his name exist in South Carolina, New Jersey, Maryland, Georgia, Missouri, Texas, Florida, and California.

He also has his name on university schools of study, planetariums and even a crater on the moon and of course McNair Hall on the campus of A&T which houses our engineering program.

He raised the standard on what it means to excel and he made the HBCU education legitimate in the eyes of many. We will keep him in our hearts and minds forever.

• Leroy Mikell