Part 2: Exploring innovation -- what drives human spirit?

Tale of two brothers, air and land exploration

Second in a series on innovation and exploration

Dedicated to ‘Of all the Dads I’ve Loved Before’

1961-1965 — NASA, special assistant to the administrator. Twenty years later I spent an afternoon with Uncle Phil …

and we talked normal stuff in his corner apartment. Born July 4 — you can’t make this stuff up — he was a braided blend of accomplished corporate man and grateful public servant and an ordinary man to talk with, just like his brother, my father-in-law, Dan.

Was it something in the water or just parenting skills? Was it a credit to rich reading environment in local schools? Did they read a lot because they were bored? Both were very keen listeners.

From 1961-1965, Phil had been part of the inner-core Project Mercury, and later Gemini program which accelerated the call by President Kennedy in 1962 to launch a man to the moon.

NASA meeting notes indicate the focus was efficiency based on safety. March 1965 the first Gemini program manned spacecraft launched, and with mission accomplished, Phil moved onto new ventures.

Diligence, commitment and pushing innovation across society and the globe. Whether working to develop economic equality in Africa’s Liberia through the new concept of corporate philanthropy, or back home in uplifting minority supply chains as appointed councilman by President Johnson. He served as presidential advisor in various capacities to Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Carter, Ford and Reagan.

Photo by Finn Hackshaw on Unsplash

Open minded, he also published in The Saturday Evening Post, and books Black Heroes in Our Nation’s History, Up from the Ghetto, and New Hope for Problem Drinkers. Busy but humble, he sought out and listened to learn from the paths he traveled and shared what he learned.

Land exploration, with $20 in his back pocket

Photo by Jake Blucker on Unsplash

More laidback was his older brother, and with a pipe resting on his chin, Dan a.k.a ‘Dad’ would capture my attention and I’d hang on his every word. Revered by peers and his sales team, I was curious about this man. In 1935 during the Depression, with bleak outlooks for employment, bravely took a chance and at age twenty he hitchhiked from Dane County, Wisconsin to L.A. with $20 in his pocket.

Hitching rides from truckers heading west on Interstate 80, he credited the trip to the grace of others. He’d offer gas money but drivers were thankful for the companionship instead. A driver would drop him off, as they turned off a needed exit and he’d walk until someone else picked him up for another segment of conversation.

This edgy bare bones survival experience, before the advent of cells or texting, and during the height of the Depression taught him about the back & forth nature of people. Riding and talking to different types of people, listening to their personal stories taught him the nature of people.

He signed inter-office memos D.A.D. as were his initials and was referred to as ‘Dad’ by the company’s 300 employees. Sought after to confer with, you were always safe with him, he kept a confidence. He was a gentle giant of a man, usually in his office, alone working. He never came in early, nor stayed late.

The last 15 minutes of the day, he’s come out to the ‘typing pool’ and just chat about the weather, news or daily chitchat. Then he’d leave with the rest of us on the elevator. That was appreciated by his employees. The everyday-ness of him, is what earned him such high regard by others.

Dad believed in carefully hiring people and then believing in them. He granted long leashes for creativity to explore new ideas and ways. He built bonds of trust by being someone that others could trust.

Photo by Park Troopers on Unsplash

A good sense of humor. Only ‘Dad’ at the podium could deliver a one-liner at the annual company sales meeting after the discovery of an item in the crook of his arm due to static cling. Legendarily lovable was he. And did people ever produce for him, you just didn’t want to disappoint him, you’d aim to please with vigor and detail. Blessed was I to have worked for my future father-in-law in a corporate setting. We later joked that my employment as a long interview.

I wish I had known Dan and Phil’s parents, Norwegian immigrants. Phil and Dan lost a sister in childhood and were raised in rural Wisconsin. Hardy stock.

Speaking of pipes, those were days where people smoked in the office, hard to believe!

Remember fashionable ashtrays? — don’t get me started ~ maybe a road trip with music is the antidote.

Photo by Namroud Gorguis on Unsplash

Innovation and its change can be invigorating.

Your mission, should you decide to accept, is to have a great day and as always, thank you for subscribing.

Signed,

Daughter of career federal agent, ladened with piles of IRS regulations — Love you Dad to the moon and back. xo

Photo by Greg Rakozy on Unsplash