The IMSA Great Minds Program®
Author of October Sky
(This event was for the IMSA Community only)
"We are proud of who we are: Wisdom from a small town that will change your life"
Homer Hickam spoke on his life growing up in the little town of Coalwood, West Virginia, and how he and his high school friends learned to build the rockets that captured a gold medal at the 1960 National Science Fair. This is the story that he wrote about in his best-selling book "October Sky" which was later turned into the hit movie of the same name. He also talked about Coalwood's simple wisdom that has shown him how to have a happy and productive life. Among these are the rules Homer's father had for his mine foremen that included "Don't be afraid to tell a man he's no good. How's he ever going to get good if he doesn't know he's bad?" Another choice quote is "It's better to confess ignorance than to provide it." Homer told why his father thought entropy was a bad idea and fought it to the day he died. All in all, Homer's speech was thought-provoking and inspiring and left us all with much to think about, including how in the world did an engineer ever learn to write such poetic, page-turning books?
Date: Wednesday, October 24, 2001
Reception: 9:30 -- 10:15 AM in the Old Cafe
Free Cider and Donuts!
Talk: 10:30 -- Noon in the Auditorium, followed by Q&A
Booksigning: Noon -- 12:30 PM in the Old Cafe