. >> reporter: carl mcnair's little brother ron was one of "challenger's" seven crew members.t's something in your brain, something you never forget. >> we remember ronald mcnair. his dream was to live aboard the space station, performing experiments and playing his saxophone in the weightlessness of space. well, ron, we will miss your saxophone and we will build your space station. >> reporter: but ron mcnair's story which began here in lake city south carolina, isn't just one of tragedy but triumph. the tale of a precocious kid who grew up poor during segregation and overcame hurdle after hurdle to realize his dream. >> it's a story of if you will a real role model and i think when you learn about all the aspects of his life you find that same kind of thing exists you know from the dedication that he had, the commitment that he had to his craft. >> reporter: gifted in both sighness and math mcnair graduated at the top of his high school class went on to earn a bachelor's degree in physics and his ph.d. from m.i.t. but that success almost didn't happen after he changed his ma

one of his mentor's was ron mcnair, who was killed in the challenger disaster. it was him who convinced him to apply to the astronaut corps. in 1980, nasa selected our speaker as a candidate. he qualified in 1991 as one of only eight marines on the shuttle program and the first african-american marine to become an astronaut. he flew four shuttle missions, two as pilot, two as commander. many important nasa assignment ended when his return to the marine corps and epic, the as mention of the naval academy in about. in 1907, it is named deputy commanding general first marine expeditionary force in the pacific, and during the first of a mountain and it served as commanding general of the first marine force forward in support of operation desert founder in kuwait. in 1998, promoted to major general, named deputy commander of forces in japan. serve as commanding general of the third aircraft marine wing in san diego and then retired it from the marine corps in 2003. his military record it -- decorations include the service medal and distinguished flying cross. inducte

one of our speakers mentors was ron mcnair killed in the challenger disaster. he convinced him to apply to the after not corporate in 1980, he selected -- nasa selected our guests bigger as an astronaut candidate. in 1981 he qualified as only one of eight marines in the shuttle program and the first african- american marine to become an astronaut. he flew four shuttle missions between 1986-1994. this first including representative bill nelson of florida as a congressional observer. others included commission that the plug the hubble space telescope. many important assignment ended. in 1997, he was named deputy commanding general of the first marine expeditionary force in the pacific. in 1998, he served as commanding general to the 1st marine force forward in support of operation desert thunder in kuwait. in 1998, he was promoted to major general and named deputy commander of u.s. forces in japan. is served as commanding general of the third marine aircraft wing and 10 air station and retired in 2003. his military decorations include the defense superiority meta

one of his mentors was ron mcnair, killed in the challenger disaster.arolina, it was mcnair who convinced him to apply to the astronaut corps. in 1981, he qualified as only one of eight marines on the shuttle program and the first african-american marine to become an astronaut. he flew four shuttle missions, two as pilot, two as commander, including bill nelson, the first hispanic-american in space. others included the mission that deployed the public space telescope -- hubble space telescope. he returned to the marine corps. in 1997, he was named deputy commanding general, the first marine expeditionary force in the pacific and in the first half of 1998, served as commanding general to first marine force forward in support of operation desert thunder in kuwait . in 1998, he was promoted to major general, named deputy commander of u.s. forces in japan, served as commanding general, third marine aircraft wing, miramar, san diego, and retired from the marine corps in 2003. his decorations include the defense superior service medal, distinguished flying cr

one of our speakers mentors was ron mcnair killed in the challenger disaster. he convinced him to apply to the after not corporate in 1980, he selected -- nasa selected our guests bigger as an astronaut candidate. in 1981 he qualified as only one of eight marines in the shuttle program and the first african- american marine to become an astronaut. he flew four shuttle missions between 1986-1994. this first including representative bill nelson of florida as a congressional observer. others included commission that the plug the hubble space telescope. many important asset anassignmet ended. in 1997, he was named deputy commanding general of the first marine expeditionary force in the pacific. in 1998, he served as commanding general to the 1st marine force forward in support of operation desert thunder in kuwait. in 1998, he was promoted to major general and named deputy commander of u.s. forces in japan. is served as commanding general of the third marine aircraft station andir st10 air retired in 2003. his military decorations include the defense superiority me