Story about William Fred Curry, '59

Things have changed and I can't seem to get in to the Office of Student Affairs with a story about Bill Curry, '59 (deceased) so will try the only sure way I know to contact TAMU and that is through the Former Students portal.

     Don't know that this note will ever reach the eyes of the VPSA, but hope it does so that I might share a memory with you.  Recently, an article was published in one of the Student Affairs publications of TAMU (don't recall which one and may have even misplaced it on my computer).  But, the story was about students who have overcome great obstacles (health/physical,etc.) reach their goals.  This particular story was a more recent student.  Sorry I can't recall more details than that, but it reminded me of another Aggie from the class of '59, deceased some 30 years ago.  William Fred Curry Jr. was on the gymnastics team while an architecture major and broke his neck in a trampoline accident his freshman year.  A C7 injury paralyzed him below that level (leaving deltoids, biceps and some triceps for limited motion of upper extremity.  Obviously, his drawing ability essentially disappeared, although he produced some very incredible art work later with a hand splint that held a pencil, so architecture was out.  
     After a year of rehab he returned to school to complete his education.  His mother rented a place near campus and transported him daily.  His father was a public school teacher in Comanche, TX. and a peanut farmer to enhance the income.
    Lot's of story inbetween, but what came after getting his BS in Math, then his MS (again in math b/c there was no computer science degree available at that time, even though the course work was all that consistent with a CS degree).  
    The real story begins here.  Bill was hired by IBM, the main contractor for NASA in Houston.  With his pencil in the wrist/hand device he was the main author of the code that was translated by others in card punch form for the Apollo mission to the moon.  Success placed extreme demands on Bill.  It is common knowledge that quads have heightened reflexes and back then the treatment to control the spasticity was Valium, without which even a lift breeze across his pant leg would generate spasticity that would throw him our of his whee chair onto the floor.  And, tolerance to valium increases steadily so that dosage must be gradually increased to be effective. Eventually, it impacted his abilities such that he had to retire shortly after Armstrong's mission.
   Of course, there is much more to the story, but this should be enough to point you in the right direction about a personality that was persistent and refused to give in to defeat, and as a result contributed greatly to success and history of our great nation, and to individuals, like me, who were fortunate enough to be his friend.  And it certainly reflects well on how A&M molded and honed his abilities that had a important contribution to a major historical event in the history of our nation and the world.

Thank you for your attention to this brief story of Bill Curry and I do hope it is worth your while to explore and develop as you may see fit.

Sincerely,

Robert J. (Bob) Laird, '61

Emeritus Professor of Physical Therapy

University of North Georgia, Dahlonega, GA

rlaird@northgeorgia.edu, cell=706-344-2345

mailing address: P.O. Box 1285, Dahlonega, GA 30533