 |
Tolliver was small business advocate
X-Press Assistant Editor Former NASA Senior Contract Specialist Jack T. Tolliver passed away Dec. 17, 2000. Tolliver retired from NASA in the 1980s following a career that took him from Dryden's technical arena to the procurement side of the organization. "Jack was a small business advocate and a committed proponent of capability and diversity," recalled Senior Procurement Analyst Bob Medina. "He first worked at the range and then he got a chance to move from the technical side to the procurement side. This background served the Center well as he worked in contracts." "He was originally an electronics technician, then a small business rep and ultimately a senior contract specialist," elaborated Salomon Perea, NASA senior contract specialist. "He was very active in small business — he'd go from Center to Center supporting small business." Friends and former co-workers also remember Tolliver as a very committed and pleasant co-worker and a man who enjoyed a wide variety of interests, including athletics, art, business, music and community involvement. Russ Davis, NASA procurement officer, recalled Tolliver as a delightful person to have in the office. "Jack was a very kind and considerate gentleman," agreed Perea. "People thought quite highly of him. He was always upbeat, always with a smile on his face," added Medina. "He was a mentor to me and he always had time for me—no matter how busy he was." Both Medina and Perea recall Tolliver as very supportive of sports, whether participating in a sporting event at Dryden or coaching high school football. "He was a big golfer and would always win prizes in Dryden tournaments. He was also a home-run hitter for the NASA team softball games as well as a major chess player. In fact, he was a very big sports enthusiast and worked with the youth in the Antelope Valley," commented Perea. In addition to being an avid athlete, Tolliver "was a member of the amateur radio club and he wrote original musical scores on his computer," noted Perea. "Jack was fond of quoting famous sayings and was always willing to get a better understanding of things. He was a student of whatever he was pursuing and he enjoyed life to the fullest," said Medina. |
 |
|
Responsible NASA Official: John Childress For questions, contact: Dryden Web Group Page Curator:WD-Team Modified: March 26, 2001 |
 |
