posted 09-08-2004 09:52 PM               

An extensive website featuring a wide range of photographs, maps, flight logs and other memorabilia has been launched to honor Captain Roy M. "Butch" Voris, USN (retired) founder of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels Flight Team. The website, which features a "retro" design motif, is located at FirstBlueAngel.com. The website is being launched in conjunction with the official introduction of Voris' biography. Written by award winning author, Robert Wilcox, with a forward by renowned astronaut James Lovell, "First Blue" will be published by St. Martins Press in mid September 2004.

The mission of the site is to generate funds for The Navy Marine Corps Relief Fund and the Naval Academy Foundation. This will be accomplished by selling autographed copies of "First Blue." All costs for operating FirstBlueAngel.com have been underwritten by members of Butch's family, all net proceeds from the sales of "First Blue" and the Blue Angels photographs will be donated to the Navy Marine Corps Relief Fund and the Naval Academy Foundation.

"First Blue," the story of WWII Ace Butch Voris and the creation of the Blue Angels is the rollicking saga of a true American hero -- part Rocket Boys, part military history, part the Right Stuff. According to Jim Lovell, Commander of multiple Apollo Lunar Missions, this book should appeal to anyone who has felt the thrill of aviation in their veins. With a great story to tell, Wilcox has crafted a stirring naval action narrative that often reads like an adventure novel covering Voris' remarkable life. The story ranges from heroic, tragic and humorous to inspirational, but is always spellbinding.

Anyone can enjoy the extensive Blue Angels memorabilia on display at FirstBlueAngel.com, acquire an autographed copy of "First Blue" and support a good cause all at the same time.

The official launch event for "First Blue" will take place at The California Air Show in Salinas, Calif. October 2nd and October 3rd. He will also be feted at the Jacksonville NAS Air Show October 30-31.

posted 04-18-2013 10:48 AM               

The following is from his Wikipedia bio:

Upon his retirement from the Navy, Captain Voris went to work for the Grumman Corporation in Bethpage, New York, assisting in the development of the Navy's F-14 Tomcat and NASA's Lunar Module. In 1973 he accepted a position in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Office of Industry Affairs. In 1985, Voris retired and he and his wife moved to Monterey, California.)