NASA's Glynn S. Lunney H’71 Reflects on Moon Landing

Glynn S. Lunney H'71, a native of Old Forge, graduated from Scranton Prep and studied at The University of Scranton. He went on to get his B.S. in aerospace engineering from the University of Detroit, which was common practice in the 50s when Scranton didn't offer a bachelor's in engineering. Lunney became an engineer at NASA in 1958 and, later, a flight director for both the Gemini and Apollo programs.

He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his work during the Apollo 13 crisis.

Lunney received an honorary degree from The University of Scranton in 1971. In this Times-Tribune article, he looks back 50 years on the Apollo 11 moon landing.

The Weinberg Memorial Library at The University of Scranton has the full citation for his 1971 honorary doctor of laws degree in its digital collections. If you’re on campus, you can also browse through some newspaper clippings about his appearance and address at undergraduate commencement that year.

Below is an Apollo 11 moon landing photograph signed by Glynn S. Lunney for Rev. Dexter Hanley, S.J.