TOLEDO -- Gene Kranz led America's first flights to the moon and had a huge part in saving Apollo 13 and its crew. He came home to Toledo to give his alma mater a gift that's out of this world.
Kranz received NASA's Ambassador of Exploration Award and gave it to his alma mater, Central Catholic High School.
The award is a piece of the moon encased in lucite and will be part of a display at the school including pictures and articles about Kranz.
He's a 1951 graduate who was the Flight Director for Apollo 13. That meant he made all decisions about how to resolve the crisis and bring the astronauts home safely.
Kranz says, "...everyone considered it a privilege to work on the mission...we were proud to be part of the team, proud to be Americans, and proud to put the american flag on the moon."
Gene credits his teachers at Central Catholic for giving him the education, enthusiasm and skills necessary to be successful at his job with NASA.
