Volume 26 • No 02 • 2003
ISSN 0742-468X • Since 1978
On-line Since 2000
Thanks a Lott!
At a time when he must still be spinning from a questionable off-the-record remark, Senator Trent Lott got a momentary reprieve from public condemnation.
The reprieve came from none other than the ASPRS (www.asprs.org). The imaging and geospatial information society awarded the senator from Mississippi the prestigious ASPRS George E. Brown, Jr. Congressional Honor Award for 2002. The award was given to Sen. Lott in recognition of his leadership, policy guidance, and legislative efforts contributing to significant advancements in the science, engineering, application, education and commerce of imaging and geospatial information.
According to the ASPRS’ Anna Marie Kinerney, “Sen. Lott has worked for many years to support the work of NASA, and specifically the John C. Stennis Space Center, a unique multi-agency center of geospatial science and applications in South Mississippi.” The Stennis Center works to advance geospatial research, applications and commerce through the cooperation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Naval Research Lab, Naval Oceanographic Office, U.S. Geological Survey, Environmental Protection Agency, as well as many other federal and state agencies and private contractors.
Editor ’s Note: Sadly, as I am writing this article, I am listening to the news about the tragedy of the Space Shuttle. I know that the employees at Stennis and all the space program locations are saddened by the loss of the seven brave crew–members of the Columbia. Our prayers are for the crew, their families, friends, and countrymen.
ASPRS President-elect Donald Lauer noted in presenting the award, "Senator Lott has been very active and incredibly supportive of Mississippi-based remote sensing activities which have moved the remote sensing industry and the science ahead throughout this great Nation in a very favorable manner. And while Senator Lott has taken a slightly different approach from that pursued by Congressman Brown, for whom the award is named, the effects of his efforts are equally noteworthy. Senator Lott is highly commended for those efforts and clearly is an example for other legislators to follow in this regard."
ASPRS created this award in honor of the late Congressman George E. Brown, Jr. in acknowledgement of his contributions to advance the benefits of imagery and geospatial information to society. Representative Brown was very supportive of this industry authoring key legislation affecting the industry, supporting relevant research and promoting development of the commercial remote sensing industry.
Conclusion
I once met Senator Lott at a city hall in a small Mississippi town. He was there to get license tags (plates for you non-Southerners) for his daughter ’s car. He might have been any Dad helping his daughter. He took time for casual conversation with the locals, and little ol me. Odd that a man so down to earth was so instrumental in the space program.
He was to receive the award in April 2002, but scheduling conflicts prevented that. In a way, it is fortunate that the delay occurred, so that he could receive this award now, after his ordeal. It is a terrible thing to see a man who has dedicated his life to governing be so quickly vilified for one remark. Lott was no better, nor no worse than his colleagues. The timing of this award may have been awkward, but I hope it played some part in the healing of a victim of our politically incorrect times.
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