Larry W. Gale; Director of Rocket Program for McDonnell Douglas

Larry W. Gale, 57, director of the U.S. Air Force Delta programs for McDonnell Douglas. Educated at Loyola University, the propulsion engineer began his long career with the aerospace company in 1959, working on the Thor intermediate range ballistic missile. For the last five years, Gale was in charge of the overall design, development, and production of the Delta II medium launch vehicles. He was instrumental in obtaining the new $1-billion Delta II rocket production contract granted to McDonnell Douglas on April 9. On Wednesday in Rancho Palos Verdes of a heart attack.