WZTV: Tennessee Tech sends support to Barry Wilmore in space

Tonight A midstate astronaut remains on the International Space Station after NASA determines the vehicle to bring him and his partner in space, home isn't safe. This delay has been going on for months now, and the latest word is that Commander Butch Wilmore, who grew up in Mount Juliet, will be in space until at least February. Joining us now with more on Butch Wilmore is Tennessee Tech University's president, Doctor Phil Oldham, Butch Wilmore graduated from tech and serves as a member of the board of trustees. Doctor Oldham, thanks for doing this. I know you've been following this story as closely as anybody. I imagine a lot of folks on campus were watching closely and have to be at least somewhat concerned about which Wilmore's safety on this extended mission >>Oh, absolutely. Everybody loves well, we call him Barry. Barry is his name Butch is his callsign for as a Navy pilot. But so everybody at NASA calls him Butch. Everybody here calls him Barry. But no, everybody's pulling for Barry And of course, his colleague sunny wishing them a safe return. And it's an interesting set of circumstances, but I can tell you Barry is built for this kind of challenge, and nobody better to do it. So he's in good spirits, I know. >>Now I understand you and some members of the Tennessee Tech family Extended family, if you would actually got to speak with him from space. What can you share about that conversation? >>Yes. In fact, interestingly enough, I talked to him today on the phone, just a few hours ago, and he's in great spirits he said, look, this is part of what we do. And, he's Barry's a man of tremendous personal faith, and he attributes everything that he has in front of him to to God. And he gives him the credit for it. And he's just he leans into it and works the problem well. >>Good man to have with that attitude. The plan just so people understand. Originally it was for an eight day mission. Now it's turned into at least eight months. It's not a record or anything, but from what you said about your most recent conversation, he really is viewing this in the best of possible lights. >>Yes, he is, you know, it's a it's a challenge. It's no question about it, most of us would find this to be very daunting, but Barry's had such an incredible career and has been challenged in so many ways throughout his life that this is just one more. And like I said, I think there's nobody better situated to handle something like this than than Barry Wilmore We're so proud of him. He's got a great family, a great support system around him. And, he, you know, he'll come through this fine. But he's he's in good spirits. And, it's interesting to talk to him while he's traveling around the world at 17, 000 miles an hour. >>I know crazy story. How do you use his service and connection to Tennessee Tech to help you recruit? You know the best and the brightest because he's from around here and and doing all he has done as a as a, I guess an alumnus of, you know Tennessee Tech in Cookeville is a pretty cool thing >>Yeah. So Barry's a great example Interestingly, he's not the only example. We've got a lot of these, role models from Tennessee Tech that have gone on and done amazing things in their career, Barry's story is, is actually fairly common, but he, Barry came from a pretty normal background. Great family, but he was a walk on football player here at Tennessee Tech, majored in electrical engineering. He's now a member of our sports Hall of Fame. And and, has had a great career as an engineer, particularly as a Navy pilot and now an astronaut. And he is he's, he's something pretty special, but it shows what hard work and dedication does. And and we're just so thankful that he's a tech alum and very very dedicated to his support for Tennessee Tech. >>Well, we're proud of him all over Middle Tennessee. And so, you know, great that we got to actually speak with you today after having spoken with him, Tennessee