Charles Bolden makes his name in space, NASA

Columbia native Charles Bolden was appointed chief administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in 2009 by President Barack Obama, becoming the first African-American to permanently head the agency.

Bolden graduated from C.A. Johnson High School in 1964 and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in electrical science from the U.S. Naval Academy four years later, being commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marines Corps.

But Bolden, described by former teachers as an excellent student, had difficulty getting into the Naval Academy. Neither of the state’s two U.S. senators nor Bolden’s congressman would nominate him, a prerequisite for entry.

Following up on a request for help Bolden previously had written to Lyndon B. Johnson when he was U.S. vice president, Bolden contacted Johnson once again when he became president, and Johnson persuaded an Illinois congressman to make the appoint. Bolden was president of his 1968 graduating class at the academy and became a naval aviator.

He flew more than 100 combat missions during the Vietnam War between 1972-73. He earned a master of science in systems management from the University of Southern California in 1977 and was selected for training as an astronaut by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in 1980.

Bolden became qualified as a shuttle pilot in 1981 and, as an astronaut, went on to fly four space shuttle missions, one of which was the Discovery mission that launched the historic Hubble telescope. Bolden, who logged more than 690 hours in space, went on in 1999 to become one of three astronauts to be inducted into the South Carolina Hall of Fame, 10 years before his presidential nomination and unanimous congressional confirmation to be NASA’s chief administrator.

About this series: The inaugural edition of The State newspaper was published Feb. 18, 1891. In anticipation of the 125th anniversary, the Palmetto section and this section at thestate.com are recounting each day how The State covered newsmakers and events vital to South Carolina’s history.

This story was originally published February 3, 2016 at 7:15 PM.