After His Death, Sand Springs Pilot, Astronaut Honored At Hometown Ceremony

A fly-by of vintage planes honored one of Oklahoma's own on Friday at the Sand Springs airport.

Dozens gathered at the airport named for astronaut and Sand Springs native Col. William Pogue.

Pogue died earlier this year in Florida at age 84. A 25-year U.S. Air Force veteran, Pogue served with the Fifth Air Force during the Korean conflict where he completed a combat tour in fighter bombers. From 1955 to 1957, he was a member of the USAF Thunderbirds.

He was selected as a NASA astronaut in 1966 and served as the pilot aboard the third and final flight to Skylab, this country's first space station.

That 12-week flight in 1973 and 1974 set a record for what, at the time, was history's longest space flight.

He also was a staunch advocate for the space program and an author.

3/15/2014 Related Story: Oklahoma Astronaut Led Life Of Great Adventure

Family, friends and guests met on Friday to unveil a new plaque in his memory.

U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe was the featured speaker.

Pogue's brother says he was very happy with the turnout.

"So we got together with the city fathers and wanted to make this a community event and tried to make sure that people in this area recognize the fact that we have an astronaut of our own here in Sand Springs," brother Jim Pogue said.

Jim said he's happy to have a chance to remember his brother in Oklahoma.