and successfully piloted Apollo 13 through major catastrophe and back to safety, becoming, with the rest of the crew, one of three people to travel farther from Earth than any other human (all the checks).
Think about that. Jim Lovell had to pilot a damaged space craft farther from Earth than any human had ever been. I know it’s possible to die just a few miles into the “here be dragons” of the desert or the ocean, but there’s something uniquely mind blowing about being farther away from the planet than anyone else. We’re talking no one even finds your remains territory here.
He would go on to write a book about his Apollo 13 experience that would later be adapted into the movie Apollo 13 that would go on to win a staggering nine Academy Awards, because if you get anywhere close to representing the awesomeness of such an event, the Academy is obligated to shower you with Oscars.
Tip o’ the hat to Courtney who runs the excellent Space and Stuff, IDK tumblr for reminding me that Jim Lovell is from Ohio.
Rest assured dear reader, the Ohio Badass Hall of Fame is no boys club, not when there are amazing women like Jerrie Mock around.
This tiny Ohio housewife and mother of three became the first woman to fly solo around the world and she did it by strapping some extra fuel tanks into a Cessna. Bad weather and mechanical difficulties be damned, she did it. Then, when she got back, she broke a bunch of other records too.
Ohio Badass Hall of Fame week continues with Neil Armstrong, the first human being to walk on the moon.
Want to know what compares to walking on the moon? Here’s a short list:
walking on Mars
curing cancer
bringing world peace
None of that has happened yet!
There’s walking on the moon and then there’s everything else.
Much like John Glenn, Neil Armstrong’s military career, experience as a test pilot, and continuing advocacy for space travel would earn him a place in the Ohio Badass Hall of Fame, but, seriously now, HE WALKED ON THE FUCKING MOON.
When it comes to kicking off the Ohio Badass Hall of Fame, there’s little choice, but to start off with John Glenn.
He flew the first supersonic transcontinental flight.
He became the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth.
When he was 77, he became the oldest person to go into space.
Any one of these accomplishments would establish John Glenn as a complete badass, but this isn’t even including his 24 year stint as a US senator, his work in public affairs, or his distinguished military career that included flying 59 combat missions in World War II and 90 combat missions in the Korean War. Put all this together and it’s a little hard to comprehend how one person can cram all that badassery into a single life.
It’s downright mind blowing how much John Glenn has accomplished, but here’s the thing… He’s not done. At 91 years old, he’s still more interested in creating the future than he is in polishing his medals.
Next week, we’re going to start a series of posts lovingly called The Ohio Badass Hall of Fame. There’s no physical hall and there won’t be an award ceremony, but we’re still going to have fun talking about badasses from Ohio.
Astronauts get inducted, no questions asked. Presidents, actors, and sports stars don’t get an instant “in” though. We need solid proof of badassery. Being “pretty tough” isn’t going to cut it.
Candy and Violence has already made a few great recommendations, so let’s keep the ball rolling and hit Submit to make your nominations.
