“It truly is very humbling to stand before you today because you know, despite highfalutin proclamations, you know who I really am; little Billy McArthur who grew up in Wakulla,” stated Col. William S. “Bill” McArthur Thursday before family, friends and well wishers at the Red Springs Historical Museum.

That little ole Billy McArthur, now 55, grew up to follow his dreams, graduate from Red Springs High School and West Point and then after six attempts, became a NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) astronaut on his seventh attempt, flying on some of the most sophisticated space rockets in the world.

The veteran of four space flights n three aboard the Space Shuttle and one, a six-month stint aboard the International Space Station as its commander, McArthur was honored Thursday, beginning with a luncheon with top science students from Red Springs High and Flora Macdonald Academy, along with school administrator, town and county officials at the new Red Springs Community Building. He then attended several school assemblies at Peterson Elementary and Red Springs Middle schools, and culminated with a parade down the streets of Red Springs to the town’s historical museum on East Fourth Avenue. There McArthur was recognized by U.S. Representative Mike McIntyre and the Town of Red Springs with a proclamation, naming Thursday, October 26, 2006, as “Bill McArthur Day.” He was also presented a