On the morning of November 21, 1963, aerospace engineers watched intently for President John F. Kennedy’s motorcade.

The President sped from his visit at the Manned Spacecraft Center along the Galveston-Houston Interstate 45, to the Houston Airport for a flight to Dallas.

Lexington resident Jay Schabacker, was among those onlookers.

A brief chronology of his career might be helpful:

• June 1958: He graduated as a mechanical engineer from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY.

• June 1958 – February 1962: He worked at the American Machine & Foundry Company, Greenwich, CT on the Titan I underground launch program’s design, manufacturing and site installation.

• February 1962 – September 1963: He worked as a design engineer at Douglas Aircraft, Santa Monica, CA, on the Saturn Launch Vehicle S-IV stage for the Apollo Program.

• September 1963 – February 1967: Ground systems engineer at the General Electric Manned Spacecraft Center Apollo Support Department, Houston.

February 1967 – Staff engineer at the Lockheed Electronics Company, Hyattsville, MD, on the OAO Operations Control Center.

He and his family moved to the northeast because of elderly family health problems. His technical career continued for many years.

His years at the Manned Spacecraft Center were challenging and rewarding. His expertise was in Ground Support Equipment.

He worked on an engineering report to NASA’s General Phillips, Saturn IB/ Spacecraft Launch Complex 34 Ground Support Equipment, December, 1964.

Another interesting NASA study resulted in a paper, Apollo Spacecraft Integrated Checkout Planning, presented at the 3rd Space Congress, March, 1966.

Jay had no concept that these accomplishments were possible. Those in the space program worked hard together and had results.

“Whatever you do, work to make accomplishments worthy of your efforts,” he advises others. “My view from my experiences: You can be a contributing part to an important program. Do your best. Keep learning, and make the very most of your talents.”

He advises young people that engineering and technology will always be among the best of careers.

“From a small to a large job, you can be part of something as important as the Apollo Moon Program of the 1960s,” he said.

“A little known, but fitting tribute to the assassinated President John F. Kennedy took place at the evening of July 20, 1969.

“An anonymous citizen placed a small bouquet of flowers at the Kennedy grave site at Arlington Cemetery with a note that said, “Mr. President, the Eagle has landed!”

That note was referring to the 1st manned landing on our moon that the President had challenged all Americans to undertake.

In retirement in Lexington, Jay is author of books on the Biblical Creation.

His first book in 2013 was

Purposeful Design: Understanding the Creation.

This book beautifully explains the principles of science that operate our world. It masterfully explains the elements of design that made life possible, and completely presents evidence that a loving Creator God was purposeful in these designs.

His second book published this year is Scientific Challenges to Evolutionary Theory: How These Challenges Affect Religion.

It addresses all aspects of the battle between 2 major belief systems – those who believe in a “naturalistic worldview” and evolution, and those who believe in a miracle-performing God and the Creation.

Jay says, “Scientists have proven the impossibility of the theory of evolution... and now we know what to do about it.”

Copies of both books are available from Amazon.com and other book selling sites.