Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The Latest on legislation naming an Ohio airport for astronaut John Glenn (all times local):
9:47 p.m.
A bill naming an Ohio airport for astronaut John Glenn has cleared the state Legislature.
In a gesture of bipartisan cooperation, the Republican-dominated Ohio House and Senate approved a bill Wednesday adding the 94-year-old Democrat's name to Port Columbus International Airport. The facility's new name will be John Glenn Columbus International Airport.
Glenn was the first American to orbit the earth in 1962, and was a member of NASA's storied Mercury Seven crew that led the U.S. into space. With Scott Carpenter's death in 2013, he became the crew's last surviving member.
Raised in New Concord, Ohio, Glenn flew 59 combat missions during World War II and 63 ground support missions during the Korean War.
He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1974, serving until 1999. Glenn returned to space in 1998, at age 77.
___
3:32 p.m.
Astronaut John Glenn is getting an airport named in his honor in his home state of Ohio.
In a gesture of bipartisan cooperation, the Republican-dominated Ohio House voted Wednesday to support a bill adding the 94-year-old Democrat's name to Port Columbus International Airport. The facility's new name will be John Glenn Columbus International Airport.
A Senate vote is also expected Wednesday.
Glenn was the first American to orbit the earth and was a member of NASA's storied Mercury Seven crew that led the U.S. into space. With Scott Carpenter's death in 2013, he became the crew's last surviving member. Glenn also piloted the first supersonic transcontinental flight in 1957.
He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1974, serving until 1999. He returned to space in 1998, at age 77.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
