Astronaut presents award to Highland Industries employee

By Dwight Dana
Morning News reporter
Published: December 16, 2008

CHERAW — An astronaut who has made two space flights made a goodwill visit to Highland Industries in Cheraw on Tuesday morning to congratulate the factory on a job well done and to present the astronaut team’s personal achievement award, the Silver Snoopy, to a plant employee.

Col. Patrick Forrester, a West Point graduate, last flew on the 118th shuttle mission aboard Atlantis 117 on June 8-22, 2007. It was the 21st mission to visit the International Space Station. Atlantis 117 landed at Edwards Air Force Base after traveling 5.8 million miles in 14 days.

But Forrester’s second visit to Highland wasn’t to tout his accomplishments. It was to commend the plant for the fabric it manufactures for NASA and to present the Silver Snoopy award to a surprised Kenneth Lisenby.

A 47-year employee of the plant, Lisenby is a weave development technician.

“You have been the go-to person for design and development of fabric applications,” Forrester said. “I can only imagine what all of this has looked like over the years you’ve been here. It seems like you been part of every one of those new techniques.

“You have been the sole information manufacturing resource supporting Highland’s continuous improvement efforts. Highland’s ability to support the shuttle program has been greatly enhanced by your efforts.”

Forrester said Lisenby has been the “backbone of Highland’s success” in manufacturing space shuttle fabric.

And he added, “In recognition of your continuing contributions and dedication to the American Space Program, please accept the astronauts’ personal award for professional excellence, the Silver Snoopy. Now this particular Snoopy flew on the STS-116 mission about 250 times around the earth. It is really an honor for me to get a chance to present it to you.”

The Silver Snoopy is given “in appreciation for professionalism, dedication and outstanding support that greatly enhance space shuttle flight safety and mission success. In recognition of these achievements and as a symbol of our special thanks, the astronaut team presents this astronaut personal achievement award to Kenneth Lisenby.”

“Kenneth has been working with us for over 40 years and does an outstanding job,” plant manager David Johnson said. “He’s our top loom technician and he’s been a leader in the shuttle flight fabric program.”

“A lot of this has to do with the people you work with,” said Lisenby, a 66-year-old Chesterfield resident. “I’m real proud and honored. I accept this on behalf of all the Highland employees.”

And to show his sense of humor, Lisenby looked at Johnson and quipped, “Mr. Johnson, don’t you think this would be a good time to ask for a raise?” The crowded room broke out in laughter.