Despite inter-college rivalries, the Washington BYU Management Society gave its top award to a former University of Utah president over the weekend.
James C. Fletcher - the only man to head NASA twice, and who was also president of the University of Utah - was given the Distinguished Public Service Award by the society, a group of BYU alumni and friends in the Washington area."I attended BYU for two years - and I'm proud of it. It's a great school and it produces great people," Fletcher said. His degrees came from Columbia University in 1940 and the California Institute of Technology in 1948.
He was involved as an adviser with the nation's space program from the beginning and later served as NASA administrator from 1971-77. After the space shuttle Challenger disaster, President Reagan drafted Fletcher to return, even though he did desire the job to rebuild the agency. He left again last year to resume teaching and consulting.
Elder Richard G. Scott of the Council of the Twelve of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said Fletcher "exemplifies the highest and best use of extraordinary leadership. . .. His efforts blessed the nation and the world."