Eugene Kranz Visits Central Catholic Before Airport Dedication

Eugene “Gene” Kranz (Class of 1951) was a surprise guest at the Class of 2021 Senior Honors Assembly on May 21. Mr. Kranz was in Toledo to attend a ceremony rededicating the Toledo Express Airport in his honor on May 22.

While the student body was attending the assembly, Mr. Kranz, three of his daughters, and two granddaughters enjoyed a tour of the Central Catholic school building. From the moment he arrived, his family was taking videos and photographs to send back to the rest of his family in Texas, including his wife Marta, who was unable to make the trip. Mr. Kranz was thrilled to share his alma mater with family members who had never visited with him before, and he had many memories of what has changed (and what hasn’t!) since he was a student.

Mr. Kranz’s favorite stop was the Moon Room, where his Ambassador of Exploration Award is kept. He selected Central Catholic to exhibit his award, which includes a lunar sample in December 2007. “I had no difficulty deciding who to give the moon rock to,” he explained. “Central Catholic is where it all began for me.” Since then, he has donated other NASA items to display, including a console and flag from Mission Control, and the walls are filled with graphics of his time working as a flight director for Gemini and Apollo missions.

Also on display is Mr. Kranz’s high school term paper entitled The Design and Possibilities of the Interplanetary Rocket. He obviously wrote the paper before any space travel was possible. When questioned about it, he explained that he had been interested in flight since childhood and he read magazines about it to learn more. His ideas were based in reality, and he was thrilled that many of his ideas came to fruition later in the space program.

His favorite picture in the Moon Room is a graphic showing everyone together at the Mission Control desk. He explained that back then, everyone faced the press together when there was a problem, and that the media was very knowledgeable and knew what questions to ask.  He also said that he did not regret being a flight director rather than an astronaut. “Astronauts usually get to take one big trip, but I got to take part in 127. It was a blessing to be involved in the Gemini, Mercury, and Apollo missions, the Skylab program, and preparation for the Space Shuttle. It wasn’t God’s plan for me to fly, but to help others fly.”

Mr. Kranz humbly described the naming of the Toledo Express airport in his honor by saying, “I don’t see it as having it named after me, but as a tribute to the team of people that helped me get to where I ended up. I wanted to be a pilot, and I had many mentors who inspired and challenged me, starting with the sisters at CCHS, my family, and my NASA co-workers.  They are all a part of my success, and this honor is a tribute to everyone who helped me along the way.”

When it was time to enter the Sullivan Center to speak at the senior honors assembly, Mr. Kranz was greeted by an excited group of students and staffulty. He talked about losing his father when he was young and about the sisters at Central Catholic who were very influential. They found him a scholarship to attend Parks College, an aviation school in Illinois, because he wanted to become a Navy pilot. He said the sisters taught him that failure is not an option.

“Commencement means a beginning, and this is a milestone in your life,” he told the senior class. “You will face uncertainty and challenges in determining your life’s path.  Be bold, courageous, and steadfast. Set goals that will ultimately determine your destiny. Make no small plans because small plans don’t stir your blood.  Without risk, there is no achievement or impossible dream to conquer. There is no obstacle that cannot be overcome with determination and faith in yourself.

“CCHS has prepared you for success by teaching you discipline - being able to lead and to follow - tolerance, confidence, responsibility - answering for what we do and what we fail to do - and teamwork.  I wish you fair skies and tailwinds. Go Irish!”

His remarks were met with a standing ovation. Mr. Kranz stayed around to meet students and staffulty, and to take pictures and sign autographs. He had a special gift for CCHS freshman, Maison Schoonover, who wears a NASA jacket to school all the time. Maison wants to attend the University of Toledo College of Engineering and go on to work for NASA. Mr. Kranz gave him a NASA pin and patch, as well as a DVD of a documentary about the space program. Maison was very grateful for the opportunity to meet Mr. Kranz and discuss their common interests.

Mr. Kranz said that to be back in Toledo and at Central Catholic was a culmination of his personal and professional life.  Being able to show his alma mater to his family was a great way to share the origins of his success.