COLUMBUS, Ohio — Toledo's Eugene F. Kranz has been named as one of three recipients of the 2024 Great Ohioan Award, announced by the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board and the Capitol Square Foundation last week.
Kranz, a Central Catholic graduate, is an American aerospace engineer who worked for the U.S. Air Force and NASA. He's best known for his work as flight director for the Apollo 13 mission in which the oxygen tank partially exploded en route to the moon. Kranz helped the crew reach back to Earth safely.
He's also known for being the flight director for the Apollo 11 mission as well, which saw a man walk on the moon for the first time. He retired from NASA in 1994.
In May 2021, the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority board of directors voted unanimously to rename the airport in his honor as the Eugene F. Kranz Toledo Express Airport.
The other two recipients of the Great Ohioan Award are illustrator Howard Chandler Christy and former U.S. House Representative John Bingham.
"These three selections represent Ohio's diversity in different fields of endeavor. An artist, a dedicated public servant and a leader in the United States' effort in space exploration. All three made profound contributions to Ohio's unique place in national and world history," Capitol Square Foundation chairman Charles Moses said.
Nominations for the award were submitted by citizens and organizations across Ohio and are based on certain criteria. There have been 59 Ohioans recognized with the award for their work.
For a full list of past awardees, click HERE.
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