Former director honored with aerospace award Published June 27, 2008 By Margo Wright Staff Photographer TINKER AIR FORCE BASE -- Robert Conner accepted the first General Thomas P. Stafford Aerospace Award from its namesake Monday during the Oklahoma Aerospace Summit and Expo in Oklahoma City. The award recognizes an individual who has greatly furthered Oklahoma's aerospace industry and had a large impact on the industry while facing considerable personal and professional challenges. Retired Lt. Gen. Thomasl Stafford, an Oklahoman, is an astronaut, military pilot and advocate for space exploration who made history with Gemini and Apollo space missions. He had the famous first meeting in space with Soviet cosmonauts during the Apollo-Soyuz project. Mr. Conner, now working with Oklahoma State University in innovation and economic development, retired from Tinker after 33 years with the Air Force. He was the first civilian director of the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center at Tinker. Beaming about accepting the award from his hero, Mr. Conner said that General Stafford lived his boyhood dream. "I'm so honored. Beyond words. Thomas Stafford is a great American hero. His Gemini and Apollo missions...and then when you think about his relations with the Soviet Union ... to get an award with his name on it, it's just such an honor", he said. "I wanted to be an astronaut as a kid, " he admitted with a smile. "I built a control panel out of cardboard and Christmas tree lights." Looking at the award, he turned serious, giving thanks and credit for winning the award to the Tinker work force. "This award is a team effort. There's no better team anywhere than at Tinker Air Force Base," Mr. Conner said.