In Loving Memory, Joseph Guy Thibodaux, Jr November 27, 1920-April 26 2016

 

This is taken from my father’s memorial and put together by my niece. I was hoping to be able to just upload the original pdf document on to the webpage but my lack of skills in the blogosphere are blatant. This will, however give me room for commentary. When my father passed away, he left thousands of documents and photos cataloguing the many eras of history he was part of. He survived the Great Depression, WWII and when on to be an extremely key individual in the development of manned space flight in the USA that landed men on the moon. I hope to use the photos and documents and his world view as I saw it to comment on who I am today and where this world stands on the shoulders of his accomplishments.

Early Childhood
Guy was born on November 27, 1921 at the F.B. Williams Lumber Camp in the Atchafalaya swamp near Napoleonville, Louisiana. Money was scarce, and Guy learned to live a modest lifestyle. For a time, his father worked as a bookkeeper for the Railroad, and his family lived in a Box Car. He would eventually move to New Orleans, where he would attend school. He developed an interest in poetry through books he received as Christmas gifts. Later in his childhood, Guy received gifts such as Erector Sets and Chemistry Kits that would ignite his lifelong commitment to Science. His parents taught Guy the importance of integrity, humility and education; their hard work and savings and a small inheritance from his grandfathers’ passing (and an ROTC scholarship) were enough to send Guy to Louisiana State University at the age of 15 to study Chemical Engineering.
There are many photographs and documents from this time period that he digitally scanned; mostly of family members, many of whom I will be unable to identify. Fortunately, my mother is still alive and able to help assist in this area. This was an important time for him and the world and I would like to explore this era in his life.

College Years
In 1938, Guy began his studies at LSU where he was a cadet in the Army ROTC. He wasn’t statured enough for varsity, but he did participate in a number of intramural sports, of which his favorite was handball. Guy admittedly wasn’t an honor roll student and was more interested in methodology and learning than being taught to memorize. Passing courses was virtually effortless for Guy, and he and his roommate could often be found shooting snooker or going to the movies while the rest of the students were cramming for exams. It didn’t get him the best grades, but gave him a zest for learning and taking risks; his experiences in college put him in contact with some likeminded individuals that would become lifelong friends and colleagues.
There are some very interesting stories about LSU and the development of commercial flight, rocketry and the manned space program. I don’t appear to have a lot of documentation and photographs from this time period but, as I develop this blog and become more proficient, I hope to network with others that may be able to share information,

World War II
Immediately upon his graduation from LSU in 1943, Guy joined the US Military as an Officer in the Army Corps of Engineers and served in the China-Burma-India Theater during World War II. He was assigned to the 45th Engineering Regiment to build advanced fighter strips in the Burmese jungle and construct the Ledo Road connecting India and China. During his time in the Army, Guy made the most of his travels and immersed himself in the local culture. His bright mind and curiosity lead him to study many languages and spiritual philosophies.
He left behind thousands of photographs he collected and scanned from numerous undocumented contacts. I also hope to expand the stories I can extrapolate through contact with others knowledgeable in this area.

The Space Era
Upon his return home in 1946, he joined up with his college roommate to fulfill their commitment to searching for a job if they survived the War. They headed up to Virginia and made a visit to Langley Field, VA, home of the Langley Aeronautical Research Laboratory of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. Although he had no experience in aeronautical research, Langley needed someone to work on liquid propellant rockets, and Guy seemed suited for the job. During his time with NACA, Guy tackled many disciplines and fields, while developing strong communication and leadership skills. About his employment experience, Guy said “NACA was the finest organization ever created by the United States government.” Guy was contributor in the creation of NASA and later moved to Houston to assume the role as the  First Chief of the Propulsion and Power Division. He was instrumental in early space exploration and man’s first trip to the moon. Guy received countless accolades throughout his employment with NACA and NASA, but was perhaps most remembered for the positive impact he had on his many employees.
I hope to explore his contributions to manned space flight in great detail. His work with the NACA is fascinating in how fundamental it was to the manned space program, lobbying, designing rockets to fly farther, faster and with heavier payloads, and networking and consulting with other scientists in the field. I was born when NASA was being formed. My earliest memories are from this time.

 

Family Life
Guy and Mary Jo were married on April 23, 1949. When Guy took the job with NASA, they moved their family, including children Ami, Guy, Dean and Chris, to Nassau Bay, TX where they have resided for the past 52 years. Guy, Mary Jo and the kids were very active in the community, especially with the Swimming and Diving Team. Guy was also known for his love of photography and computers. He had 8 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
I hope to use this section to reflect on who and where I am today. While my accomplishments can nowhere compare to that of my father’s, life has been relatively interesting. I’ve made lifelong friends through sports I’ve been involved in, spent most of the last 30 years studying, managing, exploring and educating others in speleology. I currently live in San Marcos, Texas, have two kids and a grandson.

My goal is to divide up his life into the categories listed in the header and blog about my interpretation of his life and mine.  I will randomly select pictures he left behind and try to tell a story that relates to him and/or me in and about that respective time period.  I will try to archive as the pages fill up and hope to improve the format but please come for the content; a picture and a story.

Thanks,

Chris