After a 51 year absence, former astronaut and Scotland South Dakota native Charles Gemar has returned to his roots.
“It’s hard to take South Dakota out of the individual,” said Gemar. “I had a great childhood, great memories growing up in this state, I’ve always missed it, I’ve always considered myself a South Dakotan. And now that I’m a resident again, I just feel at home.”
Gemar left the state in 1973 and began a journey highlighted by three space shuttle missions orbiting the earth as well working in the aerospace industry and encouraging young people seeking careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Gemar and his wife Michelle were guests at a program at the Corn Palace Plaza Saturday recognizing his selection as a “famous South Dakotan” on a mural depicting his image as an astronaut. He announced that as of August 1st he was once again a South Dakota resident now living in Sioux Falls.
Gemar is News Director J.P. Skelly’s guest on Tuesday’s Let’s Talk at 8:45 am on KORN News Radio FM 101.3 and AM 1490.