Dr. Von L Burton Jr. was born at his home November 29, 1941 in Jefferson County Alabama to his loving parents, Von L. and Martha L. Burton. He accepted Christ as his Savior at the age of 12 under the pasturage of Rev A. I. Brattier of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church. Married December 24, 1987 to Cleola C. Burton.
Three words that described Dr. Burton at an early age were, church, work and school. Love of church was the result of Christian parents and a progressive pastor. Mrs. Carlina Wood should be included because she gave him the book “Hulburts Story of the Bible” in which he became fascinated with having read it over and over. The thing she emphasized was to read the book in order first then go back and reread the stories that were found to be the most interesting.
Work was a characteristic found some where in his genes. Around 12 years he sold flower and garden seeds from the American Seed in order to earn a BB gun, and later the “Grit News Paper” and the “Chicago Defender News Paper”, and at the age of 15, secured an after school job washing dishes for the F W. Woolworth company.
For the record his parents never suggested that he “Get a Job”.
He loved school and learning. The money from work was used to buy used magazines from the “Birmingham Book and Magazine store” namely “Popular Electronics” “Popular mechanics” and “Aviation week”.
While in High School he played clarinet in the band and served as the schools-set up and operation of the schools P.A. System.
Before graduation from Hooper City high school he was encouraged to apply for admission to Morehouse College and was accepted; graduating with a B.S. Degree in mathematics June 1963.
Dr. Burton was awarded the Bachelor of Art’s degree from Morehouse College in the field of Mathematics June 4 1963 and was offered the position of mathematics and science instructor from Virginia Seminary and college of Lynchburg Virginia. While this level of position was reserved for people with a Masters Degree, he was informed by college that since he had obtained the degree from Morehouse college, an exception to this policy would be made.
However payroll issues began to emerge and Dr. Burton was contacted by the Aberdeen proving ground in Aberdeen Maryland and was offered the position of “Mathematician”. He accepted and was in charge of testing 105 mm howitzer artillery ammunition. While employed here Dr. Burton pursued a Masters degree in Statistics from the university of Delaware in Newark Delaware.
The following section is taken from Dr. Burton’s website, www.VonBurton.com. The supporting documentation, references and citations can be found by visiting the website.
This Website is dedicated to the memory of my parents, Mr. Von L. Burton, Sr. (October 1912 – June 1989) and Mrs. Martha L. Burton (November 1913 – January 1993), without whom’s guidance, direction, patience and time the following might have not been possible.
Employed at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Aberdeen, Maryland, and charged with the responsibility of statistical sampling and analysis of United States Army Stockpiles of 105mm Howitzer ammunition which are located in various parts of the country. He had the responsibility of selecting the samples, the logistics related to transportation of samples to the particular testing ground (Yuma, Arizona, Dugway, Utah, Madison, Indiana, Aberdeen, Maryland). Coordinated the inspection of samples by various inspectors, managed all operations relative to performance of the test and recording of the velocity data from each round fired. Performed the resulting statistical analysis and wrote report providing an identification of ammunition lots by failure rate as well as the description of other performance parameters.
· The purpose of sampling these stockpiles was to determine the effects of long-term storage under various environmental conditions on the performance of the ammunition and ensure the availability of sufficient usable quantities in case of emergency conditions.
· The 105mm Howitzer round weighs 33 pounds and according to the Encyclopedia Britannica, holds the record of being fired more than any other artillery round in World War II. To his knowledge, he was the only person that had this responsibility at that time
· Became interested in the “man on the moon” project and began employment with NASA at Marshall Space Flight Center and joined the Trajectory Section. Had the responsibility of optimizing the trajectory for flight of the Saturn V moon rocket through its first 100 miles into what was called then a parking orbit. As perhaps recalled from memory of TV viewing of the various lift-offs, as the rocket lifted off from its launch pad, it appeared to tilt over in a certain direction as opposed to direct vertical flight. Specifically, his responsibility was the generation of the polynomial equations that determined the amount of vehicle tilt that would minimize what is referred to as the Angle of Attack to ensure the safe passage of the vehicle through what is termed the regime of Maximum Dynamic Pressure. The mathematical technique termed “Runge-Kutta” was employed using an SDS 930 computer.
· For members of the Trajectory Section at the Marshall Space Flight Center during all Saturn V Rocket launches. From left to right Walter Witty, Bobby Brothers, Gerald Wittenstein, Jerry Weiler, Von Burton. Not pictured the late Pamela Pack.
· Following the lunar landing, joined the Preliminary Design Office of Marshall Space Flight Center and became engaged in the planning of future advanced space vehicles, satellites and payloads. Performed the mission operations analysis on all payloads that passed through Marshall Space Flight Center. One satellite was the High Energy Astronomical Observatory (HEAO) which later mapped the entire galaxy for stars that emit X-rays. Wrote report on the percentage of area of the galaxy covered each day based on a given scan rate. The agency accepted and adopted this 6 month calculation and the HEAO program moved forward.
· Other projects included a project entitled Large Space Telescope (LST) which was later named the Hubble Telescope and which, when launched in 1991, was the world’s most sophisticated telescope since Galileo made the first telescope in 1607.
· Before the Hubble Telescope was an approved program, the early years were spent in selling the idea to Congress, to the astronomical community (many of whom were skeptical), and coming up with a preliminary design.
To sell the idea and need for an instrument such as the Hubble, The Marshall Space Flight Center formed a “Traveling Team” to visit the various observatories around the country to promote the Hubble Telescopes advantages.
He was a member of this team and presented a proposed operational on orbit timeline for the Hubble. Dave Shultz, Garvin Emanual, John Butler and Clay Hamilton discussed other areas of specialized interest. This photo was taken at the Kitt Peak Observatory in the area of Tuscon Arizona around 1973. I think the previous night that we slept in our clothes as the host astronomer did not wish to sacrifice any time using the Kitt Peak telescope and there were no motels on the mountain wherein the telescope was located. Two hours prior we departed Chicago following a briefing to the astronomers at the Yerkes Observatory in freezing ice and snow and landed in Tuscon, which was sunny and above 90 degrees.
· Received a total of seventeen (17) individual awards from NASA; six of which are indicated in this career highlighter.
February 4, 1972 Group Achievement Award (Center Award)
“Exceptional Performance of duty and outstanding teamwork during the period July 1, 1970 to November 30, 1971. Your untiring devotion to duty and extra efforts displayed in the Modular Space Station study have been a great asset to Program Development and the George C. Marshall Space Flight Center.”
May 30, 1975 Group Achievement Award
(Center Award)
“Exceptional Performance of duty and outstanding teamwork during the period November 31, 1973 to December 31, 1974. Your Outstanding Contributions and Leadership in the Phase A Study of Atmospheric, Magnetospheric and Plasmas in Space Payloads have been a great asset to the Program Development and the George C. Marshall Space Flight Center.”
· Performed all on-orbit operations planning for initial space shuttle flights indicating crew activities and shuttle operations on-orbit as a function of time on-orbit.
1978 – 1979
· Selected to attend for a period of one year NASA Headquarters’ Career Development Program as a member of the Advanced Projects Office. Primarily involved in developing briefing packages for the initiation of various new projects to various congressional committees. Also heavily involved in developing the payload requirements for what was then referred to as a Space Platform and a new family of launch vehicles under the direction and tutorage of Captain Robert F. Freitag, (U.S. Navy Retired) termed Heavy Lift Launch Vehicles and John Disher. These activities were in support of NASA’s long range planning program.
· Participated in NASA Headquarters coordination of Skylab Reentry.
· Shared office space with Jesco Von Puttkamer.
· Served also as Executive Secretary of the 25k Power Module User Requirements Working Group
1979 – 1981
· Served on Source Evaluation Board for the procurement of an Atmospheric Sciences Payload.
· Served as Assistant to the Director, Administration and Program Support Directorate (600 Civil Servants and 700 contractor personnel). This Position involved management of the infrastructure at the Marshall Space Flight Center consisting of the offices of procurement, computer services, telecommunications, plans and analysis, technology utilization, property management and facilities.
· Served a representative to the Level II Program Requirements Change Board.
1981 – 1991
· Responsible for the transmission and data reduction of data generated by payloads that fly on the Space Shuttle. Data were received either from tape recorders removed from the shuttle upon landing and flown to Huntsville by private aircraft or by direct downlink to tracking stations during shuttle flights. Established and implemented real-time telemetry capability at the Marshall Space Flight Center for payloads that fly aboard the Space Shuttle. Among these were the Solar Array Flight Experiment.
NASA and Athens State University
1976 – Present
· Serves as adjunct professor of Business (Statistics) at Athens State University, Alabama’s oldest University.
· Received three teaching awards from Athens State University.
Received Outstanding Teaching Award in May of 1982, from the college. “Outstanding teaching and the promotion of academic excellence
· while serving as adjunct professor for the Division of Business Administration”.
· Received Excellence in Teaching Award from Delta Mu Delta Honor Society; May 1991.
· Wrote Lab Manuals for use with statistical computer software.
November 1981
· Awarded first U.S. Government patent for the invention “Reaction Engine Powered Generating System with Power Load Variation Control Capability.” Awarded November 24, 1981.
July 1984 (Agency Award)
· Received Space Concept Development Team Award recognizing initial conceptual creations in the origination of the Space Lab, which flies in the cargo bay of the shuttle on most missions. “For innovative and technical contributions in the origination of Space lab payloads concepts and the successful accomplishment of extensive preliminary design and definition efforts in the establishment of the Space lab Development Program.”
August 1984 – June 1986
· Completion of a two year program in Digital Electronics from National Radio Institute. The program covered 52 subject areas, and also the assembly of an IBM XT personal computer ~ (it still works).
November 1985 (Agency Award)
· Received IUS Failure Investigation and Anomaly Team Award. (Challenger Investigation). “For demonstrated technical and management leadership in the resolution of the ISU-1 anomaly exhibited in the development of a very complex fault isolation matrix and ground test programs and analyses to support conclusions reached.”
July 1986 (Center Award)
· Sustained Superior Performance Award “Based upon last year’s performance appraisal of highly successful rating, employee’s performance has continued to be at a highly successful level and is expected to continue in the future.”
June 1986
· Awarded the Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) Degree; Southeastern Institute of Technology. Dissertation: The Establishment and Implementation of Real-Time Telemetry Capability at the Marshall Space Flight Center for Payloads that Fly Aboard the Space Shuttle. (Click Here) • Southeastern Institute of Technology
Additional Research Papers
· An analysis of VLSI Technology and Future Computer Architectures (1986)
· Integrated (Voice and Data) Local Area Networks (1985)
· Historical Perspectives on Telemetry (1985) • An Analysis of the Societal Relationships of the Microcomputer (1986)
· An Analysis of the Background Factors and Perspectives that have Shaped the Economic Forces of the Current Hardware/Software Cost Ratio (1986)
December 1989
· Published the following Reference Book, The Programmable Logic Device Handbook through TAB Books currently, McGraw Hill Inc.
March 1995
· Retired from NASA, continues as Professor, Athens State University, Athens, Alabama.
· Honorary Member of the Delta Mu Delta Honor Society
· Served on several Search committees and other appointed committees
· Member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
Year 1999
· Founded the Real African American History Website
· Over 2 million hits per year.
Year 2004
· Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, 8th Edition 2003–2004, Volume 4, Page 72
Funeral service will be 12:00 noon, Thursday, January 4, 2024, at the First Missionary Baptist Church (3509 Blue Spring Road NW, Huntsville, AL 35810) with Dr. Don Darius Butler officiating. Interment will be in the Oakwood Memorial Gardens. Dr. Burton will lie in repose one hour prior to funeral time.
The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Delta Theta Lambda chapter, the Omega Rites ceremony will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at the Royal Chapel of Memories.
Public viewing will be held from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 3, 2024, and 8:30 until 10:00 a.m., Thursday, January 4, 2024, at the Royal Funeral Home.
