The Indianapolis Star just tweeted that Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, has passed away at the age of 82.

I  remember well that Sunday night in July in 1969 glued to the black  & white television screen watching as Armstrong came down the ladder  from the space capsule to step on the moon and proclaim, "That's one  small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

Many  years later I had the pleasure of interviewing Armstrong more than once  for articles in the Linton Daily Citizen. Armstrong was an ardent  golfer and benefactor to various charities. Each year, Armstrong would  come to Linton to take part in the annual Phil Harris Scholarship Golf  Tournament. The tournament was long billed as the 3rd largest pro-am  tournament in the nation.

I  recall sitting down with Armstrong and asking him about that historic  night. He was humble and did not dwell much on his part in making  history. Rather Armstrong concentrated on praising the endeavors and  work of all those involved in the project past and present. He talked  about the devotion of those NASA techs and scientists who seldom were  given the credit and praise for making the impossible possible. How  those techs and scientists were the ones that turned science fiction  into scientific fact.

Armstrong will be missed. He was a real American role-model and hero.

From  the Cornfield, one final salute to a man that changed life in ways we  never thought possible and who always lived his life to a higher  standard.