Homer hickam and the rocket boys

You probably already know the story. 14 year-old Homer Hickam became inspired to learn how to build rockets after watching the Russian Sputnik satellite fly over Coalwood on an October evening in 1957. He had dreams of going to college and someday becoming part of the space program.

Most of us became interested in Coalwood because of Homer hickam’s book, Rocket Boys and the movie “october sky”. Every year the rocket boys reunite to meet their fans at the october sky festival.

Homer enlisted some friends from Big Creek High School to starting building rockets in the Hickam’s basement. This started the boys on an adventure that no one in Coalwood could have imagined.

Homer did go on to college, followed by a distinguished military career and eventually realized his dream of working for NASA. He has since had success in many other endeavors, most notably as an author.

Homer Hickam

speaks about that October night 51 years ago

Homer Hickam, Jr.

Billy Rose

talks about the October Sky Festival

Billy rose enlisted in the Air Force after graduating from Big Creek High. He went on to college and worked for many years in the defense industry.

He moved back to Appalachia near his southern West Virginia roots and recently retired as a Senior Engineer for American Mine Research in Rocky Gap, Virginia.

Roy Lee Cooke

proud to be from Coalwood

Roy Lee Cooke received degrees from the University of Maryland and The American Institute of Banking. He was a banker for many years and then the President of Carolina Domestic Coal. He is now involved with the West Virginia Access Center for Higher Education. (WVACHE)

Jimmy O’Dell Carroll

always trying to make us laugh

O’Dell went into the Air Force after High School. He also graduated from college. He went on to become involved in insurance and farming.