I met him when he escorted a “group of distinguished male aviators” (whose name cannot be divulged) on a private tours, arranged by the local chapter, of which he was a member.
He was a great host (how many times can you have an astronaut and space pioneer give you one-on-one time?). He treated all of us as fellow pilots. He autographed books–going the extra mile to personalize them.
Unlike some astronauts, he was “Earthy” (no pun intended) and straightforward–indeed, it was like talking to a fellow pilot, instead of a national hero.