I am inspired to learn, as a member of Foothills Art Association—with his death recently—Bill Barr has left this planet a far better place.

The how-and-why his humble, midwestern odyssey in the farm-belt region of Kansas transformed his salt-of-the-Earth existence beyond the Milky Way of space exploration and aeronautics, while working for NASA, is a mystery I sought to explain. As you might imagine, tapping into the mysteries of outer space (even from the inner-galactic hub of Pasadena, California), are rift with questions about: “Just how secret is ‘Top Secret,’ anyways?”

When it comes to crafting an article as a “professional sketch” of former Chief Counsel William Barr; who retired in 2001 from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena; and had formerly worked on the Mercury/Apollo Missions: I did not expect to get any crystal-clear answers from the federal government’s independent agency, where Bill began working, in 1960, in Houston’s legal department of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (N.A.S.A.).

However, I had suspected that after talking with his stepdaughter, Tamara Scovie, and members of Foothill’s Gallery, I could piece together those few facts about what stirred Bill’s imagination, in his oil paintings of countryside scenes and exotic animals in pastoral settings.

First, Member Drew Bandish, his former teacher at the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center, who retired last year, described Bill, saying, “He was a handsome guy,” who was “tall and well-proportioned.” (A comment, not so unexpected coming from a teacher of the art of portraiture!). But, when Drew recalled how Bill took to sitting where he could quietly work independently, occasionally mixing-in with the art group, I felt his pictured presence, too! But his most significant memory shared was when he walked beside Bill, after exiting his last class upon retiring—Bill was the last student at his side.

Second, Board Member Roberta Labastida spoke fondly of Bill, too. She recalled him teaching her the process of taking-in new art for display, as Bill had served on “the Hanging Committee” for several years at Foothill’s Gallery. Remembering an endearing faux pas, she had inadvertently taken Bill’s walking cane, instead of hers—straightening things out just in the nick of time: no minced words; hard feelings; or, unsteadiness of gait, at the end of the day!

My own terms-of-endearment about Bill culminated after I telephoned him one day, saying, “I want to purchase one of your two paintings, which were recently exhibited.” When Bill brought me a painting, it was not the one I described or was expecting! I learned that day about the mechanics of social graces in negotiating the return.

Getting a chance to meet his stepdaughter, “Tami,” I learned that Bill did not have children of his own and even sensed his presence still, as I saw his walking cane, leaning against the wall, in the corner of his home in East County.

She said he had been a Fulbright Scholar and that after serving as Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, Bill attended law school at Yale University, graduating with honors in 1960. Perusing his paintings of high-chaparral wildlife, I came to appreciate the artistic influence of his wife, Bonnie (She had worked at the San Diego Zoo and predeceased him before this last year.). She had taken, Bill—her love in life—to the continent down-under: Africa. His environmental interests spurred the awards and prize money he donated for juried art exhibitions, too!

So, when I think of this well-dressed, “gentle-giant-of-a-man” from N.A.S.A., I know that those astronauts’ footprints left far above us and across our solar system, are equally as expansive in art—coming from the hearts-and-minds of creative inspiration from those like, Bill Barr.

He has indelibly left his footprint high above the atmosphere, bringing humankind one-step closer to greater understanding.

– Editor’s note: This article and related images were provided by Marva Smith, a member of Foothills Art Association.