Isaac T. Gillam IV

Isaac Thomas Gillam IV, born in Little Rock, Arkansas, was the oldest child and only son of Ethel and Isaac Thomas Gillam III. Having educators in the family (both paternal grandparents were principals), Isaac, better known as "Ike", excelled as a student and graduated at the top of his class at Dunbar High School. He continued his studies at Howard University where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics. While at Howard, Ike saw a newsreel of the Tuskegee Airmen which sparked his interest in flying and spurred him to become a pilot in the U.S. Air Force. During his ten years in the Air Force, in addition to serving as a pilot during the Korean War, he served as a launch crew commander in missile silos for the Strategic Air Command, and as a professor of Air Science at Tennessee A&I (now Tennessee State University), where he also pursued his graduate studies. In 1956, he met a beautiful teacher, Norma Hughes. They fell in love, married, and would be married for over 65 years.

After serving in the Air Force, Ike began working for NASA. There, he held a series of jobs starting with managing the Delta Program, which launched communication and weather satellites into orbit. He later oversaw the approach and landing tests of the space shuttle as the Director of Space Shuttle Operations, which led to his becoming the first Black person to lead a NASA center as the Director of NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center. Next, Ike was appointed as a science advisor to the White House, before serving as the first associate administrator of the Office of Commercial Programs (OCP), that expanded private sector investment in space activities. In the late 1980s, Ike moved to the private sector, initially as Senior Vice President for OAO Corp., and later, for Allied Signal (Honeywell), where he retired.

Ike received many awards and recognition for his work. He was awarded NASA's highest award, the Distinguished Service Medal, for his work on launch programs, received two NASA Exceptional Service Medals for contributions to the Space Shuttle program and to U.S. space policy, and the Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Executive. He was inducted into the Arkansas Aviation Hall of Fame, received the NAACP Outstanding Achievement Award, Dunbar High School's Legacy Award, and was honored by Howard University for his distinguished post-graduate achievement. He has been featured in various media including the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum as a Pioneer of Flight, Business Week, the New York Times, USA Today, Ebony, and Distinguished African Americans in Space.

Our father served his country and had a distinguished career. But above all, to us, he was a loving husband and father. He was determined to give us the best possible foundation on which to build our lives. And he did. He was a selfless, honest, and caring man who loved to play golf, liked mysteries, travel, and had a witty humor. Most of all, our father loved his family. And we loved him. We will miss him dearly and are grateful to have had him as our father.

Our father was preceded in death by his wife and our mother, Norma. He is survived by his 4 children, Michael, Teri (Nathan Forte), Traci (Kyle Evans), and Kelli; his 4 grandchildren, Tasha, Brandi (Paul Mason), William (Carl Lyon), and Nathaniel; his 4 great-grandchildren, Jadae, PJ, Kaylei, and Cassidi; his sister, Constance D. Gillam; and extended family and friends. We like to imagine that he is reunited with his wife, Norma, and his beloved sister, Allene D. Gillam, and together, they are with extended family and friends, leaving the light on for the rest of us. Rest in peace, Dad. We love you.

February 1932 - December 2022