| Major Robert H. Lawrence’s life was tragically cut short just months after he made history. After being named the first Black astronaut by the U.S. Air Force in June 1967, Lawrence died in a plane crash in December of that year just ahead of a possible journey to the stars. Robert Henry Lawrence Jr. was born October 2, 1935 in Chicago. He graduated from Bradley University with a degree in chemistry at the age of 20. After joining the Air Force ROTC, he became an Air Force pilot at 21. In 1965, he earned his doctorate in Physical Chemistry from Ohio State University. (READ MORE) |
