High School Junior

My Dad, a traveling salesman, and I visited McDonald in the summer of 1950. I was a high school junior from Lamesa, Texas. We met Paul Jose and how I"ll never know, I was invited to spend a week or so at the Observatory. I lived in the dome. I got to observe at the prime focus, develop plates, and do just about everything! Paul and his wife kept me fed and happy. It was a truly wonderful experience. I went to Texas A&M and finished with a degree in Physics. Then I received an MS in Physics fron UCLA and finally a PhD in Astronomy from Wisconsin. I went on to Indiana as a new Assistant Professor. Indiana had observing privileges at McDonald! So I observed at McDonald as a real astronomer from 1965 through the 1970s.

I hope to meet many friends at the celebration on April 26. Please reintroduce yourselves! It has been a long time.

Martin Burkhead

My wife, Barbara, and I are on our way to Capitol Reef National Park to serve as volunteers for May. I will be the visiting Astronomer!