Inspiring West Virginians

Homer Hickam Jr is best known for his 1998 memoir, Rocket Boys, the story of six teenagers in a 1950s West Virginia coal company town who went on to win the National Science Fair in 1960. The book, which was a #1 New York Times Best Seller, quickly became a classic and spawned the 1999 film October Sky. The story of these McDowell County youngsters has inspired millions of people around the world to pursue their dreams. In this profile, Hickam talks about what happened after he grew up, including his career at NASA and how he transitioned into becoming a full-time author.