David Cornell
Wednesday, October 07 2009
By Gay Day Alcorn
David Cornell, age 73, passed away Wednesday Sept. 16, 2009 at the Central Wyoming Hospice in Casper from cancer. His wife Julie was by his side. Memorial services are Friday, Oct. 2 at 11 a.m. at the Encampment Presbyterian Church.
Cornell was a resident of Riverside, Wyo., and also maintained a home at St. George, Utah.
David was born the Jan. 26, 1936 in Saratoga, the son of Walter and Genevra (Gross) Cornell. David descended from one of the early Carbon County pioneer ranch families. He grew up on the Cornell Ranch six miles south of Saratoga and attended Saratoga schools. As a nine-year-old child, he was diagnosed with polio but this turned out to be a misdiagnosis as the disease was actually Charcot-Marie-Tooth. This disease left him with a leg problem from then on he walked with a limp, and in later life he always used a cane or crutch. Rather than focus on what he couldn't do, David concentrated on what he could do.
As a teenager, he was very interested in scientific and mechanical subjects. When Popular Mechanics magazine had an article saying, "You can build your own sports car," David showed this article to his father who agreed it could be done. At that point, David scoured the ranch junkyard for parts and with his father's help here and there, he assembled his car.
David's roadster was a two-seater convertible, which he painted bright red. Friends and neighbors enjoyed seeing him buzz around in this snappy little car and some even got rides in it.
Always interested in music, David excelled in playing trumpet in the school band and he also played tenor banjo. When he was old enough to get his driver's license, he played in "Skeeter" Pennock's dance band and this continued throughout high school and college. He reported later that it was a lot of fun and a very easy way to earn spending money.
David was graduated from Platte Valley High School in 1954. That fall he went to Chicago where he attended Coyne Electrical School. From there he went to the University of Wyoming where he graduated with a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering in 1959 and he soon accepted a position with General Dynamics in San Diego.
David's chief assignment while he was with General Dynamics was with the space program. During this period, he traveled with General Dynamics to Cape Canaveral where he worked on the Atlas missile program.
He was working at the Cape for NASA's first venture into space and was also there for John Glenn's historic flight in 1962. David reported being at the top of the launch tower and later wondered out loud how frightening it might have been to sit on top of all that fuel. By this time, David was recognized as a bona fide rocket scientist.
Later in 1962, he left General Dynamics and went to work for Hughes Aircraft in Culver City, Calif. During his 28 years with Hughes, he almost always had to have a secret clearance. Toward the end of that time he worked on incredible secret projects. Even his wife Julie had to be checked by the FBI. David would not even mention the gist of the projects he was working on and, of course, he got his special clearance.
About a year before he retired, Hughes Aircraft acknowledged that they had engineered and built the radar for the Stealth aircraft.
David later revealed how he had presented the details to upper management in a huge conference room, while he at the chalkboards would explain to them how it would work. He said his cane came in handy as he could use it to point to his various equations as he made his explanations moving from one chalkboard to the next.
David remained interested in scientific matters all of his life and was a member of IEEE, The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., the world's leading professional association for the advancement of technology.
Because David was extremely busy in California, he didn't touch his musical instruments for 15 years. One day when he happened by a banjo band playing on a street corner for a grand opening, he immediately joined. This was how he met his wife Julie Walker who also played banjo. After their marriage in 1978, they enjoyed playing various engagements around southern California. When David retired he began playing trumpet with the San Gabriel Valley Concert Band. Cornells next discovered jazz and played monthly throughout the area.
David was also quick witted and had a wonderful sense of humor. People said they loved to hear David laugh.
David was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Joe Cornell.
He is survived by his wife Julie Cornell, and two daughters by an earlier marriage, Ruth Cornell and her husband Kenny Hall of Temecula, Calif., and Florence Troy and one grandson Paul Troy of Hawthorne, Calif.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Prayer Shawl Ladies. Checks may be made out to Barb Johnson for the ministry at P. O. Box 903, Saratoga, WY 82331.
Wednesday, October 07 2009
By Gay Day Alcorn
David Cornell, age 73, passed away Wednesday Sept. 16, 2009 at the Central Wyoming Hospice in Casper from cancer. His wife Julie was by his side. Memorial services are Friday, Oct. 2 at 11 a.m. at the Encampment Presbyterian Church.
Cornell was a resident of Riverside, Wyo., and also maintained a home at St. George, Utah.
David was born the Jan. 26, 1936 in Saratoga, the son of Walter and Genevra (Gross) Cornell. David descended from one of the early Carbon County pioneer ranch families. He grew up on the Cornell Ranch six miles south of Saratoga and attended Saratoga schools. As a nine-year-old child, he was diagnosed with polio but this turned out to be a misdiagnosis as the disease was actually Charcot-Marie-Tooth. This disease left him with a leg problem from then on he walked with a limp, and in later life he always used a cane or crutch. Rather than focus on what he couldn't do, David concentrated on what he could do.
As a teenager, he was very interested in scientific and mechanical subjects. When Popular Mechanics magazine had an article saying, "You can build your own sports car," David showed this article to his father who agreed it could be done. At that point, David scoured the ranch junkyard for parts and with his father's help here and there, he assembled his car.
David's roadster was a two-seater convertible, which he painted bright red. Friends and neighbors enjoyed seeing him buzz around in this snappy little car and some even got rides in it.
Always interested in music, David excelled in playing trumpet in the school band and he also played tenor banjo. When he was old enough to get his driver's license, he played in "Skeeter" Pennock's dance band and this continued throughout high school and college. He reported later that it was a lot of fun and a very easy way to earn spending money.
David was graduated from Platte Valley High School in 1954. That fall he went to Chicago where he attended Coyne Electrical School. From there he went to the University of Wyoming where he graduated with a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering in 1959 and he soon accepted a position with General Dynamics in San Diego.
David's chief assignment while he was with General Dynamics was with the space program. During this period, he traveled with General Dynamics to Cape Canaveral where he worked on the Atlas missile program.
He was working at the Cape for NASA's first venture into space and was also there for John Glenn's historic flight in 1962. David reported being at the top of the launch tower and later wondered out loud how frightening it might have been to sit on top of all that fuel. By this time, David was recognized as a bona fide rocket scientist.
Later in 1962, he left General Dynamics and went to work for Hughes Aircraft in Culver City, Calif. During his 28 years with Hughes, he almost always had to have a secret clearance. Toward the end of that time he worked on incredible secret projects. Even his wife Julie had to be checked by the FBI. David would not even mention the gist of the projects he was working on and, of course, he got his special clearance.
About a year before he retired, Hughes Aircraft acknowledged that they had engineered and built the radar for the Stealth aircraft.
David later revealed how he had presented the details to upper management in a huge conference room, while he at the chalkboards would explain to them how it would work. He said his cane came in handy as he could use it to point to his various equations as he made his explanations moving from one chalkboard to the next.
David remained interested in scientific matters all of his life and was a member of IEEE, The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., the world's leading professional association for the advancement of technology.
Because David was extremely busy in California, he didn't touch his musical instruments for 15 years. One day when he happened by a banjo band playing on a street corner for a grand opening, he immediately joined. This was how he met his wife Julie Walker who also played banjo. After their marriage in 1978, they enjoyed playing various engagements around southern California. When David retired he began playing trumpet with the San Gabriel Valley Concert Band. Cornells next discovered jazz and played monthly throughout the area.
David was also quick witted and had a wonderful sense of humor. People said they loved to hear David laugh.
David was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Joe Cornell.
He is survived by his wife Julie Cornell, and two daughters by an earlier marriage, Ruth Cornell and her husband Kenny Hall of Temecula, Calif., and Florence Troy and one grandson Paul Troy of Hawthorne, Calif.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Prayer Shawl Ladies. Checks may be made out to Barb Johnson for the ministry at P. O. Box 903, Saratoga, WY 82331.
David Cornell
Wednesday, October 07 2009
By Gay Day Alcorn
David Cornell, age 73, passed away Wednesday Sept. 16, 2009 at the Central Wyoming Hospice in Casper from cancer. His wife Julie was by his side. Memorial services are Friday, Oct. 2 at 11 a.m. at the Encampment Presbyterian Church.
Cornell was a resident of Riverside, Wyo., and also maintained a home at St. George, Utah.
David was born the Jan. 26, 1936 in Saratoga, the son of Walter and Genevra (Gross) Cornell. David descended from one of the early Carbon County pioneer ranch families. He grew up on the Cornell Ranch six miles south of Saratoga and attended Saratoga schools. As a nine-year-old child, he was diagnosed with polio but this turned out to be a misdiagnosis as the disease was actually Charcot-Marie-Tooth. This disease left him with a leg problem from then on he walked with a limp, and in later life he always used a cane or crutch. Rather than focus on what he couldn't do, David concentrated on what he could do.
As a teenager, he was very interested in scientific and mechanical subjects. When Popular Mechanics magazine had an article saying, "You can build your own sports car," David showed this article to his father who agreed it could be done. At that point, David scoured the ranch junkyard for parts and with his father's help here and there, he assembled his car.
David's roadster was a two-seater convertible, which he painted bright red. Friends and neighbors enjoyed seeing him buzz around in this snappy little car and some even got rides in it.
Always interested in music, David excelled in playing trumpet in the school band and he also played tenor banjo. When he was old enough to get his driver's license, he played in "Skeeter" Pennock's dance band and this continued throughout high school and college. He reported later that it was a lot of fun and a very easy way to earn spending money.
David was graduated from Platte Valley High School in 1954. That fall he went to Chicago where he attended Coyne Electrical School. From there he went to the University of Wyoming where he graduated with a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering in 1959 and he soon accepted a position with General Dynamics in San Diego.
David's chief assignment while he was with General Dynamics was with the space program. During this period, he traveled with General Dynamics to Cape Canaveral where he worked on the Atlas missile program.
He was working at the Cape for NASA's first venture into space and was also there for John Glenn's historic flight in 1962. David reported being at the top of the launch tower and later wondered out loud how frightening it might have been to sit on top of all that fuel. By this time, David was recognized as a bona fide rocket scientist.
Later in 1962, he left General Dynamics and went to work for Hughes Aircraft in Culver City, Calif. During his 28 years with Hughes, he almost always had to have a secret clearance. Toward the end of that time he worked on incredible secret projects. Even his wife Julie had to be checked by the FBI. David would not even mention the gist of the projects he was working on and, of course, he got his special clearance.
About a year before he retired, Hughes Aircraft acknowledged that they had engineered and built the radar for the Stealth aircraft.
David later revealed how he had presented the details to upper management in a huge conference room, while he at the chalkboards would explain to them how it would work. He said his cane came in handy as he could use it to point to his various equations as he made his explanations moving from one chalkboard to the next.
David remained interested in scientific matters all of his life and was a member of IEEE, The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., the world's leading professional association for the advancement of technology.
Because David was extremely busy in California, he didn't touch his musical instruments for 15 years. One day when he happened by a banjo band playing on a street corner for a grand opening, he immediately joined. This was how he met his wife Julie Walker who also played banjo. After their marriage in 1978, they enjoyed playing various engagements around southern California. When David retired he began playing trumpet with the San Gabriel Valley Concert Band. Cornells next discovered jazz and played monthly throughout the area.
David was also quick witted and had a wonderful sense of humor. People said they loved to hear David laugh.
David was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Joe Cornell.
He is survived by his wife Julie Cornell, and two daughters by an earlier marriage, Ruth Cornell and her husband Kenny Hall of Temecula, Calif., and Florence Troy and one grandson Paul Troy of Hawthorne, Calif.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Prayer Shawl Ladies. Checks may be made out to Barb Johnson for the ministry at P. O. Box 903, Saratoga, WY 82331.
Wednesday, October 07 2009
By Gay Day Alcorn
David Cornell, age 73, passed away Wednesday Sept. 16, 2009 at the Central Wyoming Hospice in Casper from cancer. His wife Julie was by his side. Memorial services are Friday, Oct. 2 at 11 a.m. at the Encampment Presbyterian Church.
Cornell was a resident of Riverside, Wyo., and also maintained a home at St. George, Utah.
David was born the Jan. 26, 1936 in Saratoga, the son of Walter and Genevra (Gross) Cornell. David descended from one of the early Carbon County pioneer ranch families. He grew up on the Cornell Ranch six miles south of Saratoga and attended Saratoga schools. As a nine-year-old child, he was diagnosed with polio but this turned out to be a misdiagnosis as the disease was actually Charcot-Marie-Tooth. This disease left him with a leg problem from then on he walked with a limp, and in later life he always used a cane or crutch. Rather than focus on what he couldn't do, David concentrated on what he could do.
As a teenager, he was very interested in scientific and mechanical subjects. When Popular Mechanics magazine had an article saying, "You can build your own sports car," David showed this article to his father who agreed it could be done. At that point, David scoured the ranch junkyard for parts and with his father's help here and there, he assembled his car.
David's roadster was a two-seater convertible, which he painted bright red. Friends and neighbors enjoyed seeing him buzz around in this snappy little car and some even got rides in it.
Always interested in music, David excelled in playing trumpet in the school band and he also played tenor banjo. When he was old enough to get his driver's license, he played in "Skeeter" Pennock's dance band and this continued throughout high school and college. He reported later that it was a lot of fun and a very easy way to earn spending money.
David was graduated from Platte Valley High School in 1954. That fall he went to Chicago where he attended Coyne Electrical School. From there he went to the University of Wyoming where he graduated with a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering in 1959 and he soon accepted a position with General Dynamics in San Diego.
David's chief assignment while he was with General Dynamics was with the space program. During this period, he traveled with General Dynamics to Cape Canaveral where he worked on the Atlas missile program.
He was working at the Cape for NASA's first venture into space and was also there for John Glenn's historic flight in 1962. David reported being at the top of the launch tower and later wondered out loud how frightening it might have been to sit on top of all that fuel. By this time, David was recognized as a bona fide rocket scientist.
Later in 1962, he left General Dynamics and went to work for Hughes Aircraft in Culver City, Calif. During his 28 years with Hughes, he almost always had to have a secret clearance. Toward the end of that time he worked on incredible secret projects. Even his wife Julie had to be checked by the FBI. David would not even mention the gist of the projects he was working on and, of course, he got his special clearance.
About a year before he retired, Hughes Aircraft acknowledged that they had engineered and built the radar for the Stealth aircraft.
David later revealed how he had presented the details to upper management in a huge conference room, while he at the chalkboards would explain to them how it would work. He said his cane came in handy as he could use it to point to his various equations as he made his explanations moving from one chalkboard to the next.
David remained interested in scientific matters all of his life and was a member of IEEE, The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., the world's leading professional association for the advancement of technology.
Because David was extremely busy in California, he didn't touch his musical instruments for 15 years. One day when he happened by a banjo band playing on a street corner for a grand opening, he immediately joined. This was how he met his wife Julie Walker who also played banjo. After their marriage in 1978, they enjoyed playing various engagements around southern California. When David retired he began playing trumpet with the San Gabriel Valley Concert Band. Cornells next discovered jazz and played monthly throughout the area.
David was also quick witted and had a wonderful sense of humor. People said they loved to hear David laugh.
David was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Joe Cornell.
He is survived by his wife Julie Cornell, and two daughters by an earlier marriage, Ruth Cornell and her husband Kenny Hall of Temecula, Calif., and Florence Troy and one grandson Paul Troy of Hawthorne, Calif.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Prayer Shawl Ladies. Checks may be made out to Barb Johnson for the ministry at P. O. Box 903, Saratoga, WY 82331.
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