Homer Hickam turns 70 today. Homer Hickam is a former NASA engineer who wrote the memoir “Rocket Boys” which was the basis for the movie “October Sky.” Homer Hickam grew up in Coalwood, West Virginia. I’ve been through that town and it is so small if you blink your eyes you’ve missed it. Great movie about Homer and a few of his friends building rockets and going to the National Science Fair and winning a gold and silver medal. He would go on to college at Virginia Tech, serve in Vietnam and go on to be a NASA engineer. He has written a number of books.