Last Look - September 2007

Keith Larson | Sep 01, 2007

Our thanks to MBA 1976 classmates John Adams, Dottie Stephenson (both Section C), Sam Yates (Section D), and many others who provided details about this model rocket launch in Harvard Stadium. Yates wrote: “We had a first-year Marketing case called ‘Estes Rocket Company.’ Although I don’t remember what the case was about, I do remember that some enterprising classmate Marty McGowan, Section C called the company and got it to come to the stadium to launch a rocket. The company apparently had to get temporary one-day or one-hour insurance to do the launch and had to register with the FAA as well.” Stephenson added that Section C sponsored the launch, which more than 300 classmates witnessed, and that she was asked to film it with her 16mm Bolex camera. This photo and others showing the launch are in the 1975 Annual Report, pages 124–25, where one photo gives the launch date, October 9. Adams identified many of his C sectionmates in the forefront of the photo: Gustavo Herrero (at the far left), Doug Rosen and Barney Klevay (under the bullhorn), Erik Reinert, Marty McGowan (with the briefcase), Brad Poynter (Section B), Ken Scott, Fred Clarke, and Bob Hoagland. The man with the bullhorn was the head of the company. Yates wrote, “The launch was successful, and the rocket flew very high.”