GEORGE HARRY LUDWIG, 1927-2013

            GEORGE HARRY LUDWIG, world-renowned space and environmental scientist, died peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on January 22, 2013 after a two year battle with prostate cancer.  George was born in 1927 in Sharon Center, Iowa.  He grew up on a Tiffin, IA farm where he developed a natural proclivity to design, build or repair just about anything. High school valedictorian, he demonstrated his early aptitudes by bringing electricity to the farm.

From, 1946 to 1953, George served in the US Army to the rank of Corporal and then Air Force where he earned his pilots’ wings and advanced to Captain.  He was awarded the World War II Victory Medal.

            Dr. Ludwig attended the University of Iowa where he received his Bachelor of Arts in physics in 1959, his Masters of Science in 1959, and his Doctorate of Philosophy in electrical engineering in 1960.  Between 1960 and 1965 he headed the Fields and Particles Instrumentation section of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.  Later, he was Chief of the Information Processing Division and Associate Director for Data Operations until leaving NASA in 1972.  From 1972 to 1981 Dr. Ludwig’s career took him to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) where he served in various roles, including Director of Systems Integrations for the National Environmental Satellite Service; Senior Scientist; and Director of the Environmental Research Labs, Boulder, Colorado.  From 1981 to 1984, he returned to NASA, serving as Chief Research Scientist.  He was a charter member of the Federal Senior Executive Service.  After his retirement from federal service in 1984, Dr. Ludwig continued to contribute to the field of space research, serving as a consultant on data management and space station design, as a Research Associate for atmospheric and space physics at the University of Colorado, and as a visiting scientist for the California Institute of Technology.

            Of many career-wide achievements, the most notable included his role as principal designer of radiation detection instrumentation for numerous scientific spacecraft including Explorer 1, the first US orbital satellite.  This first US space mission made him co-discoverer of the Van Allen radiation belts.  He was also an expert on NASA science applications research data processing, oversaw development and operation of the US national environmental satellite system with its GOES and Tiros-N Spacecraft, and served as director of atmospheric and oceanic research programs for NOAA.  Over his career he produced over 50 published works including his most recent, a comprehensive history of early space research; “Opening Space Research; Dreams, Technology, and Scientific Discovery”, Geopress (American Geophysical Union).

            Dr. Ludwig’s academic and federal honors included the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, the NOAA Program Administration and Management Award, NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement medal, a Van Allen Scholar, and a U.S. Steel Foundation fellowship.  His professional memberships included the American Geophysical Union, Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Torch Club, Eta Kappa Nu, Phi Eta Sigma, Sigma Xi, and Phi Beta Kappa.

            After his professional retirement, George was an active contributor to the local Winchester, Virginia community.  He energetically served as a ruling elder of the First Presbyterian Church, was a member of the Long Range Planning Committee for the Handley Regional Library where he directly contributed to the planning and construction of the new library, served on the Frederick County Public Works Committee, and chaired the Frederick County Sanitary District Advisory Board of Shawneeland.  In addition, he contributed thousands of hours to community service as exemplified through his design of and reconstruction management of the Shawneeland waterwheel.

            George was a true Renaissance man.  He was an avid lover of nature and the outdoors, spending time hiking and camping with his family.  He loved classical music and listened to it often on a self-designed and built audio system rivaled by few.  He was an avid reader of fiction and non-fiction books on any topic. An enthusiastic explorer, he  took numerous short and long “adventures” throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe. George could fix anything and loved to tinker in his electronics and wood shops and in his garage, where he meticulously maintained the family vehicles.  He designed and built his retirement home near Winchester.

            He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Rosalie (Ros) Florence Vickers Ludwig; daughters Barbara Rose Ludwig of Vancouver, Washington; Sharon Ludwig and son-in-law Timothy Taylor of Silver Spring, Maryland; and Kathy Ludwig Ramsay and son-in-law Robert Ramsay of Crozet, Virginia; son George Vickers Ludwig and daughter-in-law Elizabeth Briese-Ludwig of Frederick, Maryland He adored his eight grandchildren–Stephanie Ramsay Lyell, Nathan and Derek Ramsay, Emily, Kevin George, and Kyle Ludwig, Elena and George Alexander Taylor.  He is also survived by sisters Phyllis Ludwig of Davenport, Iowa and Nona Walker of Tiffin, Iowa; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his father, George McKinley Ludwig; mother, Alice  Ludwig, brothers Dean and Robert Ludwig, and sister, Genevieve Ludwig.

A memorial service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Winchester, Virginia on March 2, 2013 at 3:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his honor to the First Presbyterian Church, 116 South Loudon Street, Winchester, Virginia  22601.