tee@mtuxo.att.com (54317-T.EBERSOLE) (07/23/89)
The following Associated Press bulletin was printed locally on Saturday, 7/22:
George Koopman, business executive
Palmdale, Calif. Entrepreneur George A. Koopman, whose business
ventures ranged from making special effects for the hit movie
"The Blues Brothers" to co-founding a commercial rocket company,
died in a car accident. He was 45.
The Mailbu resident, who wanted his American Rocket Co. to carry
small commercial payloads into sub-orbital space, was pronounced dead
Wednesday morning (7/19/1989) after his car struck a dirt embankment
and flipped over.
He was on his way to Edwards Air Force Base to watch a test of a
rocket engine, said Jim Bennett, co-founder of the company.
Before helping found American Rocket in 1985, Koopman was involved
in a variety of enterprises, including producing the special effects
for "The Blues Brothers," the 1980 movie starring Dan Aykroyd and
John Belushi. He also headed a small defense contracting company
at one time.
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I've heard Koopman speak a couple of times. He always seemed very
committed to AmRoc, very energetic, very practical about what steps
would be necessary for successful commercialization of space. My
impression is that he was responsible for acquiring most of the
financing of AmRoc. I hope that their funding won't dry up this
close to their objective, and in the future. Perhaps they would
appreciate words of encouragement from net.folk.
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--
Tim Ebersole ...!att!mtuxo!tee
or {allegra,ulysses,mtune,...}!mtuxo!tee