Author
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Topic: Signing history and experience: Gene Kranz
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alanh_7 Member Posts: 1252 From: Ajax, Ontario, Canada Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 05-21-2008 07:15 PM
Could anyone tell me if there is a way to get my copy of "Failure is Not an Option" signed by Gene Kranz? |
kr4mula Member Posts: 642 From: Cinci, OH Registered: Mar 2006
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posted 05-22-2008 11:54 AM
In my experience, Gene was signing anything and everything people asked him to. He's also gracious about posing for photos. If you can run into him, I'm sure he'd sign it. Not sure if he'd do it via mail, but I would expect so if you can get his address. His website doesn't seem to be up and running these days. |
kimmern123 Member Posts: 83 From: Norway Registered: Dec 2006
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posted 05-26-2008 04:10 PM
Gene's always been a very good signer through the mail. I actually called him just out of the blue almost a year and a half back and we had a very nice conversation. After that I sent him a copy of his book to sign, which he very quickly returned, signed and inscribed. He also included the principles of Mission Control signed by him. Through and through a great man!One thing to note though, I know he has asked that people send a maximum of two items to sign. He has some condition that makes it hard for him to sign a lot of items at once, but I'm sure every member of collectSPACE will comply with his request. |
alanh_7 Member Posts: 1252 From: Ajax, Ontario, Canada Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 05-26-2008 06:38 PM
Thanks for the information.I am a little hesitant to send a my copy of his book to him, I am sure he is very busy. That being said, I am a great admirer of Mr Kranz and would like to have his signature. Everyone I have talked to says he is a great at signing items, but I would not wish to impose. |
mjanovec Member Posts: 3811 From: Midwest, USA Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 05-26-2008 10:38 PM
Alan - I bet he would be more than happy to sign for you if you mailed him the book, especially since you are a true fan that wants his signature for all the right reasons. Just write him a nice letter explaining your interest and provide a stamped padded return envelope for him to return your book.Kranz is used to signing for people through the mail and doesn't appear to have any problems with it...as long as you're not abusing the privilege. |
alanh_7 Member Posts: 1252 From: Ajax, Ontario, Canada Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 05-27-2008 07:43 PM
Thanks for the advise. I bought a new hard cover of his book today and I am going to send it to him with a note asking if he will sign (along with the prepaid post of course). I appreciate the advise from everyone. |
Tyrell's Owl Member Posts: 95 From: Hertfordshire, England Registered: Feb 2008
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posted 05-28-2008 09:46 AM
After many months of reading the brilliant cS site, I have finally posted my first message! I am always amazed at how wonderfully helpful fellow cSers seem to be.I too have a book and a poster that I would dearly love Mr. Kranz to sign. Does he charge for his signature? Please forgive me for jumping in and asking. Thanks for raising the topic Alan... if I could get my 2 items signed I would be made up! Thanks very much. Hope this is the first of many! |
dogcrew5369 Member Posts: 750 From: Statesville, NC Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 03-03-2013 10:56 AM
Since the last post here is old, I was wondering if Gene Kranz still signs through the mail? I have his book and want to send it to him. Thanks. |
COR482932 Member Posts: 212 From: Cork, Ireland Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 03-03-2013 11:10 AM
He is a great signer. |
randy Member Posts: 2176 From: West Jordan, Utah USA Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 03-03-2013 12:54 PM
I had a great experience with Mr. Kranz sending me some signed items. |
Hart Sastrowardoyo Member Posts: 3445 From: Toms River, NJ Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 04-15-2013 11:24 AM
Sent him a photo on March 25; received it on, of all days, April 13. |
Shuttle Endeavour Member Posts: 234 From: Freehold, NJ, USA Registered: Aug 2013
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posted 09-30-2013 02:29 PM
I sent out a request to Gene Kranz on Aug. 26, 2013 and have yet to receive a response. How long has he been lately? I am really excited because he is one of my heroes. |
Smokeynick New Member Posts: From: Registered:
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posted 09-30-2013 03:04 PM
I had success with him a few months ago. I believe my item came back within a few weeks. |
SpaceyInMN Member Posts: 355 From: Andover, MN Registered: Dec 2013
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posted 02-24-2014 11:18 PM
I received an autographed 8X10 B&W photo I sent to Mr. Kranz in January about a week and a half ago, as well as an autographed principles of Mission Control document. The photo is hanging in my hallway. The document is in my cubicle (cell?) at work. Thank you, Mr. Kranz! What a thrill! |
neo1022 Member Posts: 281 From: Santa Monica, CA Registered: Jun 2013
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posted 02-25-2014 11:38 AM
I was in communication with Gene about a week ago. He is now consolidating all his signing activities into one day a month. He comes in, and with the help of an assistant, signs everything and sends it back. Thus, depending on when he receives your item, it could take up to a month before he would get around to signing it and popping it in the return mail. But what a generous guy to continue to do this after all these years! |
cycleroadie Member Posts: 452 From: Apalachin, NY USA Registered: May 2011
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posted 02-25-2014 05:46 PM
Is his address found on the website here? I seem to be missing it if it is. |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-25-2014 05:49 PM
It is not, as we have not received permission from him for it to be published. |
sprocketship Member Posts: 72 From: Registered: Feb 2014
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posted 05-20-2014 02:13 PM
I'd like to send a photo to Mr. Kranz in the mail to have him sign. Does anyone know if he is accommodating and if he charges?Editor's note: Threads merged. |
neo1022 Member Posts: 281 From: Santa Monica, CA Registered: Jun 2013
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posted 05-20-2014 03:03 PM
Yes, he is still signing. And he does not charge. He only signs one day a month — his assistant receives and stores everything, then he signs it all in one day and pops it into the mail. So depending on when your item arrives, it could take as long as a month to get it back...And his address can readily be found through a web search.
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sprocketship Member Posts: 72 From: Registered: Feb 2014
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posted 08-12-2014 08:41 PM
I received a pair of pictures back from Mr. Kranz today. It was very nice of him to do this and I'll be hanging one in my office soon! The turn around was about 3 weeks on these and I'm grateful that he was generous in signing! |
MCroft04 Member Posts: 1634 From: Smithfield, Me, USA Registered: Mar 2005
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posted 08-12-2014 09:30 PM
I received a signed photo back from Gene for my cS friend Sam from South Africa 2 days ago. It took 3-4 weeks, but now Sam has a great artifact of the moon race. |
Mike_The_First Member Posts: 436 From: USA Registered: Jun 2014
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posted 11-17-2014 07:23 PM
Gene's still signing, yes?I'd love to get his signature on my copy of "Failure..." |
mikepf Member Posts: 441 From: San Jose, California, USA Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 01-06-2015 12:22 PM
I found an address for Gene Kranz online but would like to confirm it with anyone who has had a recent success through the mail with him. Also, while I know he does not charge, I would be happy to make a contribution to one of his favored charities as a thank you. Do any of you have any info about this? Please let me know through my email. Thanks! |
gareth89 Member Posts: 298 From: Ireland Registered: May 2014
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posted 04-25-2015 03:41 PM
Has Gene ever travelled across the pond to Europe? It would be great if he was able to make an appearance in the UK or Ireland for the Apollo 13 anniversary! |
AstronautBrian Member Posts: 287 From: Louisiana Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 04-25-2015 06:51 PM
I'd just like to throw a suggestion out there, especially for those who live overseas.About ten years ago, while living in Australia, I sent Mr. Kranz a blank bookplate with an SASE and asked for it to be signed. I figured it may be easier for him to handle instead of dealing with a big book and return packaging. He sent back a nice bookplate of his own signed, with the Mission Control logo on it. It looks great in my copy of Failure Is Not An Option, and caused only minimum fuss. |
Daugherty54 Member Posts: 591 From: Cabot, Arkansas, USA Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 04-26-2015 12:30 AM
Gene Kranz is about 82 and still signs for anyone with no fee. This past Thursday he appeared at the University of Arkansas along with Jim Lovell and Fred Haise. They basically sat on a stage and narrated the formation and history of NASA through Apollo 13 based on their personal experiences. Some of the stories were fantastic. It is an honor to be able to interact with these men in any capacity. Kranz is a good man... |
gareth89 Member Posts: 298 From: Ireland Registered: May 2014
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posted 04-26-2015 08:06 AM
It would be fantastic to meet him, I only recently read 'Failure...' and was blown away. I appreciate that at his age, a trip to Europe would be quite an undertaking! Thanks for the advice Brian, I will probably send my copy of his book or a picture to him in hope that he will sign it, but meeting him would be a real honour. Thanks guys! |
Skyguy48 Member Posts: 142 From: Scotland Registered: Jun 2011
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posted 05-07-2015 05:31 PM
I had that very honour 3 weeks ago at the Apollo 13 anniversary at Cocoa Hilton and KSC all three directors were there Kranz, Lunney, Griffin... before I even went out there I sent Gene his "Failure Is Not An Option" early March and I got it back yesterday, 6th May with a fantastic inscription, to meet him he is such a gentleman very chatty and is more than happy for a photo. He is a thoroughly decent bloke. |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-23-2015 05:44 PM
Due to "several unscrupulous individuals" (his words) who have been selling the autographs they have received from him through the mail, Gene Kranz has changed his signing policies. He will now only sign one unpersonalized autograph per person. If you want more than one unpersonalized autograph, you can purchase it through Farthest Reaches (the proceeds go to charity). He will continue to sign personalized photos, but obviously his generosity should not be abused regardless. He still does not publicize his address, so this is not an invitation to begin writing him. |
lspooz Member Posts: 384 From: Greensboro, NC USA Registered: Aug 2012
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posted 08-23-2015 09:01 PM
I'm very happy with two books he inscribed through the mail for my son and me a few years back, and will not pester him further for more signatures. It's great that after any unscrupulous dealings that he still signs, and further kudos to him for doing that through Farthest Reaches for a charitable cause! |
farthestreaches Member Posts: 1074 From: Redondo Beach, Ca Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 02-19-2018 09:08 PM
This is to advise everyone listening that I heard from Gene today and he advised me that he is unable to honor autograph requests thru the mail at this time. This is due to a troublesome medical issue he's in the process of addressing. His secretary and daughter (who is helping out) with email/mail will be initiating "return to sender" notices in the coming week. Please refrain regardless of how compelling your need is, from sending Gene items for signature at this time as they will surely be returned. We have every hope and expectation that "Flight" will be back in action once recuperated which we all hope is very soon though it may take some time. He's home and resting per doctor's orders. Please be patient, keep him in your thoughts and prayers and I will update here as appropriate. |
randy Member Posts: 2176 From: West Jordan, Utah USA Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 02-19-2018 09:08 PM
Thanks for the info. Our thoughts and prayers are with Gene and his family. |
Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 02-20-2018 03:31 AM
Get well soon Gene. Failure (to do so) is not an option!! It had to be said. |
mode1charlie Member Posts: 1169 From: Honolulu, HI Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 02-20-2018 05:00 AM
Speedy recovery, sir! |
IanThePineapple New Member Posts: 3 From: PA, USA Registered: Dec 2016
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posted 03-19-2018 03:51 PM
Just got my two pics back today (One of him in Mission Control and one of the Saturn V lifting off). I sent them in late January.Both were signed, and the package included a signed copy of the Foundations of Mission Control, signed with "To Ian, aim high!" Absolutely amazing, and I'm so glad I got them signed from my personal hero. If you're reading this, thank you Mr. Kranz! |
Silver Member Posts: 62 From: Washington, DC Registered: Jul 2015
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posted 09-14-2018 04:08 PM
Is anyone aware of any updates regarding Mr. Kranz's health? |
Dirk Member Posts: 933 From: Belgium Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 09-14-2018 04:13 PM
Just informing collectors Gene Kranz signature has changed after his illness. Here scan of one of a decade ago, the other received today.
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schnappsicle Member Posts: 396 From: Houston, TX, USA Registered: Jan 2012
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posted 09-17-2018 09:53 AM
I found several signed copies of his book in some second hand bookstores. They all seem to have his later scratch signature on them. |
lunardreamer Member Posts: 86 From: Royal Oak, Michigan USA Registered: Nov 2013
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posted 09-17-2018 11:12 AM
Could it be that a family member is now signing for Mr. Kranz? |
4allmankind Member Posts: 1043 From: Dallas Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 09-17-2018 01:58 PM
Something I've been wondering. |