Program Description
Event Description
Rediscover tales of Oklahoma's past in this exciting discussion series led by local Oklahoma Historians. Each week, we will rediscover a new aspect of Oklahoma history you probably didn't cover in your Oklahoma History classes.
This week's topic is: Oklahomans in Space presented by Bill Moore
Presenter Bio:
Bill Moore received his B.A. in 1979 and M.A. in 1993 in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Oklahoma. He has been honored as a University of Oklahoma Gaylord College of Journalism Distinguished Alum. His career in video production work included time with the Oklahoma Historical Society (1999-2009), as well as producing documentaries for OETA Public Television. The decade he spent with OHS included serving as part of the group responsible for opening the new Oklahoma History Center in 2005, which included the Oklahoma film and tape library established by Moore composed of several million feet of film and tape, as well as the Oklahomans and Space exhibit. He has written numerous historical journal and magazine articles on the space program as well as author and co-author of five books dealing with Oklahoma history. He served as President of the Stafford Air and Space Museum Board, serving two six-year terms on that board, currently serving a third term. He also served on the Gaylord College of Journalism's JayMac Alumni Board, served on the Publications Board of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame Museum, formerly served on the Oklahoma Aviation and Space Hall of Fame Board, the OU Journalism Alumni Board, the Wiley Post Centennial Commission and as a Board member of the Tulsa Air & Space Museum. Moore has also served as curator on museum exhibits that include Oklahomans and Space, Broadcasting in Oklahoma, Film in Oklahoma, Galileo Exhibit at the National Weather Center, and the Stuart Roosa exhibit at the Claremore Museum.
Working on the exhibit about Oklahomans involved with the space program when the Oklahoma History Center opened, Moore continued researching this field that had fascinated him his entire life. This project has yielded a coffee table book and 7-part documentary series on Oklahoma’s PBS affiliate, OETA. Previous work included documentaries, "Thomas P. Stafford, Oklahoma Astronaut" and “Wiley Post of Oklahoma.” Both of these projects were nominated for a Heartland Emmy Award. Recently Moore was honored with induction into the Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame. To be able to work with Fred Haise and Smithsonian Books to tell his story, Never Panic Early, is the best yet!
This series is part of the Voices and Votes: Democracy in America exhibit.
Voices and Votes has been made possible in Bethany by the Oklahoma Humanities Council. Voices and Votes: Democracy in America is part of Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and State Humanities Councils nationwide. It is based on an exhibition by the National Museum of American History. Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United States Congress.