Rocketry Planet

Homer Hickam and wife Linda launch from Cape Coalwood. Jack Colpas assists with countdown.

World famous author, Homer Hickam and three of the original Rocket Boys reunited at the annual October Sky Festival in Coalwood, West Virginia. The reunion marks the 11th time the event, which is sponsored by the Coalwood Restoration Society, was held.

The activities were kicked off with a talk to students who had been drawn to the event after reading Homer’s book Rocket Boys or seeing the movie October Sky. The book and movie, a memoir of Homer’s high school years in Coalwood highlights the Rocket Boys and several locations in and around the small West Virginia town. Students from near and far, many with copies of the book in hand, gathered beside a large model of the Space Shuttle to ask questions of the inspirational group.

The four men then joined in a parade that led to the steps of the old “Coalwood Clubhouse” where they spoke to a crowd that numbered in the hundreds - all fans of the book, movie and life in small town America during the 1950s. It is a life style that Homer refers to as, “the Coalwood Way.” 

Homer Hickam and crew from Huntsville, Alabama launch from Cape Coalwood.

During the ceremony Hickam presented a trophy and Space Shuttle Challenger commemorative coin to Reach for the Stars Rocket Contest national winner, Isaac Sulsona. 16 year old Isaac competed in the national contest at Union County High School in Lake Butler, Florida. He was accompanied by both his father and grandfather.

Following the presentation - Rocket Boys; Roy Lee Cook, Billy Rose, Jimmie “O’Dell” Carroll and Homer joined Isaac for a celebratory “Cape Coalwood” launch.  Although the other rocket boys annually attend the launch, it was the first time that Hickam had flown a rocket from “Cape Coalwood” since his high school days. The ”Cape” is the same spot the “Boys” launched their rockets from over fifty years ago following the historical flight of Sputnik – the world’s first man made satellite.

“Receiving a trophy and launching from historic ‘Cape Coalwood’ with Homer Hickam and the original Rocket Boys makes this a special occasion for our national winner.” says Reach for the Stars Rocket Contest director, Jack Colpas. We promise them “Memories to last a lifetime and bragging rights for generations to come.” This year the family connection was evidenced by the fact that the event was attended by both Isaac’s father and grandfather who traveled hundreds of miles to attend. For information regarding the contest and photos of the presentation and launch go to www.TheRocketman.net.

Reach for the Stars Rocket Contest national winner, 16 year old Isaac Sulsona, was awarded his trophy on the steps of the Coalwood Clubhouse.

Also launching, many for the first time, were Homer’s wife, Linda Hickam, Bob Denver’s widow, Dreama Denver, Natalie Canerday who played Homer’s mother, Elsie in the movie, October Sky, Hickam’s Public Relations representative Burke Allen , attending the event from Washington, D.C. and many others. The sizable crowd spurred on each launch with a resounding countdown then followed with cheers and applause for the rocket flight and parachute landing.

As Natalie Canerday prepared to press the button, Homer admonished her, “Just don’t blow yourself up.” Mimicking her popular scene from October Sky. The line in the movie came just before Homer and the Boys blew up her white picket fence. Fortunately, Canerday’s flight went smoothly with no damage to surrounding fences.

Dreama Denver commented on how much her husband – who played Maynard G. Krebs and Gilligan on TV - would have loved the experience. Dreama, who gave herself a full 10 second countdown, said she went for the longer time because she wanted “the excitement to last as long as possible.”

The October Sky Festival is held annually in Coalwood, West Virginia. It is a classic small town America event with a parade down Main Street, chicken dinners in the church basement, speeches, book signings and movies in the hall. Booths, selling everything from home made fudge and jellies to commemorative t-shirts, lined the streets. Local musicians take turns on impromptu stages. Make your plans to attend next year. It is always held on the first Saturday in October – when the skies are full of promise.