The Journal
Most Mountain State residents already know what a treasure the late Katherine Johnson was, and how important she and her colleagues were to any successes the United States had at the beginning of the space race.
The White Sulphur Springs native and West Virginia State University graduate was among those known as human computers for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics and then the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Their work helped put a man on the moon.
Though Johnson had already received the Presidential Medal of Freedom back in 2015, Congress did the right thing by honoring her along with Dr. Christine Darden, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Johnson — the Black women who were the “hidden figures” handling NASA’s calculations. The group was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal Wednesday.
“The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest honor that Congress can bestow upon any group or individual,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said. “We give it to show our national appreciation for the achievements and contributions of great Americans.”
