Former astronaut Allen guest at museum's August gala

"Out of This World," is the theme of this year's Putnam County Museum annual meeting and gala.

The subject of the museum's upcoming special exhibit is "Innovation in Motion, Transportation in Putnam County."

The meeting and program will run from 7-9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5. at "The Hanger" at the Putnam County Airport in the Dixie Chopper Business Center.

Retired astronaut and DePauw University graduate Joseph P. Allen will be the event's featured speaker.

Allen flew two space flights in 1982. He was born in Indiana in 1937 and earned a bachelor of arts in mathematics and physics from DPU and his master's and doctorate degrees from Yale University.

Allen's father, "Perk," taught accounting at DePauw for a number of years.

Joe Allen left NASA in 1985 and for the past 20 years has been involved in research, teaching, and consulting. He was also Chairman of the Board of Veridian Corporation. He has published a personal account of his space flight experience as well as numerous articles in the fields of physics and space research. In addition, he has been the recipient of many awards.

Tickets will be available in early July to the public as well as museum members.

For more information on the event, call 653-8419.