|
|
James A. Korkowski
Aerospace Collection
Memorial Collection
Created by donations from all across the
country,
the memorial is located on the main floor of the Rantoul Public
Library.
The memorial collection features pictures, books, magazines, videos,
pamphlets,
maps, documents, and miscellaneous printed materials. Teaching aids for
use in schools are available. Also on display are artifacts such as
Jim's
flying suit, helmet, oxygen mask, emblems and medals, as well as
various
space paraphernalia such as space food. Models of some of the aircraft
that Jim flew, together with models of space shuttles, other aircraft
and
missiles, are displayed. The library hopes to continue to maintain and
upgrade the collection. People of all ages in Rantoul and other
communities
in Illinois benefit from this collection.
Education
James A. Korkowski was born and raised in
Rantoul.
As a Boy Scout, he reached the rank of Eagle. In high school, he was a
member of the National Honor Society. After graduation from
Rantoul
High School in 1966, he attended the University of Illinois where he
received
a Bachelor of Science degree, with high honors, in Engineering Physics
and a Masters degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical
Engineering.
Early Employment
While in college, he was employed by
Interscience
Research Institute to do computer analysis and electronic equipment
set-up
for ultrasonic visualization and neurosurgery of the human brain, heart
ventricular shape and volume, and blood flow studies. After graduation,
he was employed for two years by IBM to do marketing and marketing
support
of their mainframe computer systems. IBM also assigned Jim to work on
the
design and development of comprehensive intergrated management
information
system for the University of Illinois.
Aerospace Career
His career in flying began with a course in soaring
in college. Thereafter, as a member of the Illinois National Guard, he
graduated from flight training, became an F-4 pilot, and once flew a
fly-over
at Rantoul for an open house at Chanute Air Force Base. He flew
propellor,
turbo-prop, and jet aircraft for the Federal Aviation Administration in
Alaska for several years. For NASA, in Houston, he flew T-38's
(astronaut
training jets), turbo-prop and jet passenger planes, shuttle training
aircraft,
WB-57F's (very high altitude aircraft), and the Super Guppy. Jim flew
with,
trained and developed friendships with our astronauts. Several NASA
pilots
and astronauts attended the dedication of the memorial at the Rantoul
Public
Library.
On June 12, 1986, at age 38, Jim died of
Hodgkin's
Cancer. His mother died of Leukemia in 1991. His father lives in
Phoenix,
AZ. His widow, Sarah, lives in Rushville, Illinois. His son, Joel, a
Navy
pilot, lives in Lemore, California. Joel was on an aircraft carrier in
the Persain gulf on September 11, 2001, and flew missions over
Afganistan
and Iraq. Jim's son, Luke, is a law student in Washington, D.C. Jim's
brother,
Larry, lives in Kalispell, Montana. Jim's brother, Dan, lives in Grand
Lake, Colorado.
|
www.rantoul.lib.il.us
