Dr. Joseph D. Atkinson Jr.

DR. JOSEPH D. ATKINSON, JR., PH.D., died peacefully on October 29, 2005. He was born on July 8, 1926 in Brenham, TX to Gladys Lenore Peyton & Dr. Joseph D. Atkinson, Sr., D.D.S. He graduated Salutatorian from Pickard High School, Brenham, in 1943; earned a Bachelors from Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA in 1949; a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Houston, 1978 and a PhD in Public Administration from the University of Colorado, Boulder, 1988. He co-authored and published The Real Stuff, History of the Astronaut Recruitment & Selection Process, 1985. Encouraging others to "Dare to Dream," he founded Atkinson Investment Corp., the first African American firm in the U.S., in the early 1950's. Joseph's career spanned over 40 years. He served in the U.S. Army, worked as a civil servant at Kelly AFB, San Antonio and joined NASA, Johnson Space Center, Houston in 1964. As a Director of Equal Employment Programs Office he was the first African American to serve on the Astronaut Selection Board. He was the chief architect of the NASA Scholars program recruiting and providing scholarships to students from Historically Black Colleges & Universities and minority institutions. He retired from NASA in 1998. His life's passions included painting, photography, public speaking, carpentry, and fruit pies. He was a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He is survived by his wife, Beatrice Walker Atkinson; 5 children, Tandelyn A. Weaver (Seymour), Joseph D. Atkinson, III, Cynthia M. Roberts, Damita Kim Lyons, Selena E. Osazee (Ricky); grandchildren, Gregory L. Lyons, Traci A. Roberts, Christina E. Roberts, Vincent B. Roberts, Jr., S. Marcus Weaver IV, Ariel S. A. Weaver, Evie A. T. Osazee and Jonathan E. Z. Osazee; sisters, Darlyne Atkinson Killian, G. Anita Atkinson Ragland; Vincent B. Robert, Sr., Gregory Lyons, and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives. Preceding him in death were parents Gladys L. and Joseph D Atkinson, and Arnette Sayles Atkinson. Viewing begins at 9:00 am Friday, November 4, 2005 at Windsor Village UMC, 6000 Heatherbrook Dr. followed by the Celebration of Life Service at 11:00 am. Donations may be made to the Dr. Joseph D Atkinson, Jr Memorial Scholarship Fund at Morehouse College, Atlanta.