RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Steven R. Nagel has been called to eternal life by the wisdom of God at the age of 67; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of his passing by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, A native of downstate Canton, Illinois, Steven R. Nagel was a retired NASA astronaut and the loving and devoted husband of Linda Godwin; and
WHEREAS, Steven R. Nagel was the much-adored father of Whitney and Lauren to whom he imparted many of the fine and noble qualities that he possessed in abundance; and
WHEREAS, Steven R. Nagel graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in aeronautical engineering and earned a master's degree in mechanical engineering from California State University of Fresno; and
WHEREAS, Steven R. Nagel was a test pilot for the United States Air Force before becoming an astronaut in 1979; and
WHEREAS, Steven R. Nagel flew four space shuttle missions for NASA; and
WHEREAS, Steven R. Nagel served as a mission specialist in 1985 aboard Discovery and later that year was the pilot aboard the Challenger; and
WHEREAS, Steven R. Nagel was the Commander of both an Atlantis flight in 1991 and a 10-day trip of Columbia in 1993; and
WHEREAS, Steven R. Nagel later served as Deputy Director and Deputy Chief in two offices at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas; and
WHEREAS, Steven R. Nagel retired as a Colonel in 2011 and joined the faculty of the University of Missouri where he was a highly distinguished member of the Mechanical Engineering Department; and
WHEREAS, Steven R. Nagel was a recipient of numerous awards, including the Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with seven Oak Leal Cluster and four NASA Space Flight Medals; and
WHEREAS, The hard work, sacrifice and dedication of Steven R. Nagel serve as an example to all; and
WHEREAS, His love of life and ability to live it to the fullest endeared Steven R. Nagel to his family members, friends and all who knew him, and enabled him to enrich their lives in ways they will never forget; and
WHEREAS, Steven R. Nagel will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by his many relatives, friends and admirers; and
WHEREAS, To his beloved family, Steven R. Nagel imparts a legacy of faithfulness, service and dignity; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council, assembled this tenth day of September, 2014, do hereby commemorate Steven R. Nagel for his grace-filled life and do hereby express our condolences to his family; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Steven R. Nagel.
Alderman - 14th Ward