European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 15, 1962, Darmstadt, Hesse He knew where he was going Slayton s wildest ride in a Chicago cab might be matched with his upcoming orbit by he associated press it icon was a determined Bay whom a knew where he was thais How his onetime science instructor remembers Cap Donald Kent Slayton who u scheduled to become his country s second Man in orbit next month. And there Are Many other recollections of the astronaut by family and friends he played a trombone for four years in the High school band and was proud of the uniform he raised a prize sheep and won a Blue ribbon and sometimes he ran the five Miles from school to his farm borne to keep in shape for the track team he has 34500 hours in the air. And he told but Mother the wildest ride of his life was in a taxi cab taking him from one Chicago Airport to another. For Don Slayton he did not become Deke until air Force buddies made a no Mcname of his initials the urge for wines came Early. The Sparta High school yearbook. The spartan naturally said of him in his Junior year that his theme song was keep in Walter Pribnow. Who was Slayton science instructor and now is superintendent of schools at Appleton remembered that during Don s senior year he took a special interest in an aeronautical text. We made Black air plane models for Pribnow said. Don was a determined boy. Who knew where he was Slayton was born 38 years ago. In the Sparta Hospital to Charles Slayton and his second wife Victoria both of norwegian Stock and spent his boyhood on the family farm near the town of Leon he was graduated from the Leon elementary school at the head of his class and entered the Sparta High school in a class of 180. A new $1.5 million High school just completed will be named for him in Sparta if. The Board said he approves the move. In High school he played trombone for four years with the band and there is a picture of him in the band uniform look ing proud and s lit lie shy. He was out for the track team All four years. And played on the school s Kilun Fuir Lieis of Atit t Ica basketball Leum 01 a v Don. In a a -.\. I in sister Bev Frlj mid Alltis Ami Lloyd Harris made the live mile trip to school daily to n n Odel to Ford the Harris boys bought for $26 borrowed from their father they recall now and which served them faithfully the whole period. But during track season Don sometimes ran the five Miles to improve his wind and legs. It was with the future Farmers Chap Ter that he raised the prize Oxford sheep and after winning classes at the Monroe county fair in Tomah went on to the state fair. A career on the farm now operated by his brother beckoned but could not compete with the lure of the wings. Graduated 16th in his class he enlisted in the army air corps on his 18th birth Day. When he a called to duty it was the first time he had been away from Home for More than a Day or two. The National aeronautics and space administration biography of his air Force career takes up most of a Page 56 combats Donald Deke Slayton 38, May be second american in orbit. Missions Over Germany seven Over Japan time out to an aeronautical Engineer ing degree at the University of Minnesota a Brief tour As a civilian Engineer he quit a Good paying Job at his Mother says because he was a Toen Back into service with the min j. Nesotas air National guard and an eventual berth As experimental Jet test Pilot at Edwards air Force base. While in Germany Slayton married a civilian Secretary Marjorie Lunney. Whose Home is in California. They have a 4-year old son Kent. In a Brief visit Home after it col John h. Glenn or. Made the first Orbital flight the slay ions were Busy with plans for building a Home near Nasa s new Headquarters at Houston Tex. At Home his parents now 74 and 67 years old hear Little of the Mercury project. Charles Slayton is town of Leon treasurer and his Busy schedule has been further complicated by increasing demands As Public interest grows in direct proportion to launching Day. We share Don s Confidence in this pro Grant his Mother says we know that god willing Don s flight will be As Success Ful As Glenn s. No parents have a right to interfere with their children s futures. If Don is Happy in what he is doing we Are Happy. And Don would not be Happy unless he was or. And in Charles s. Slayton of Sparta wi., pose with a Phot of astronaut s family. The stars and strips
