One Giant Leap for Womankind

Wally Funk gets a parade in Grapevine to celebrate historic Blue Origin space flight

Wally Funk aboard Blue Origin New Shepard

The 82-year-old Wally Funk became the oldest person to go to space on July 20, 2021.

Photo courtesy of Blue Origin

The city of Grapevine is throwing a parade for its hometown hero Wally Funk for her history-making experience aboard Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin New Shepard suborbital rocket.

The parade, happening Saturday, August 7, will take place along Historic Main Street beginning at 12 pm. It will head south from Wall Street toward Dallas Road, culminating on Peace Plaza at Grapevine Main Station. It will be immediately followed by a presentation featuring Funk, aviation leaders, peers, Grapevine Mayor William D. Tate, and the Grapevine City Council.

The events are free and open to the public.

The 82-year-old aviation pioneer became the oldest person to go into space on July 20, besting the record previously held by the 77-year-old John Glenn. Funk first trained to be an astronaut in the 1960s as part of the Woman in Space Program, although she and the rest of the group known as the "Mercury 13" never made it to space.

Funk would go on to a long career as a pilot and flight instructor, making history as both the first female FAA inspector and first female NTSB air safety investigator.

Funk was joined on Blue Origin New Shepard by Bezos, Bezos' brother Mark (a TCU alumnus), and Oliver Daemen, an 18-year-old from the Netherlands who became the youngest person to go into space.

In interviews after the 11-minute flight, Funk enthusiastically told reporters, "I loved every minute of it. I just wish it had been longer.”

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FWPD News

Fort Worth's longtime police chief Neil Noakes will retire in 2025

FWPD

FWPD chief Neil Noakes

After more than 25 years of dedicated service to the City of Fort Worth and the Fort Worth Police Department, Police Chief Neil Noakes will retire from law enforcement, effective May 2025.

Chief Noakes has been with the FW Police Department since 2000 and was appointed Chief of Police in 2021 by City Manager David Cooke.

In a statement, Noakes says that he's retiring to focus on his family.

"My emotions are mixed because I have been with the FWPD for half my life and have truly enjoyed my career," Noakes says. "Being part of our FWPD family has been an incredible honor and a privilege. I work with amazing people who strive to make a positive difference every day. I have also enjoyed working with an incredibly supportive Mayor, Council, and City Manager’s Office."

"My decision comes down to family," he says. "I have a supportive and loving wife and children who have sacrificed so much and supported me and the Fort Worth Police Department. I became a grandfather in July, and I have a second grandchild on the way. It’s time for me to focus on my family."

Chief Noakes has held various ranks and served in multiple areas of the department, including Patrol, DWI, Motors, and Internal Affairs.

Before being named Chief of Police, Noakes served as Deputy Chief, overseeing the South Command. He earned his bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Tarleton State University and his master's degree in Criminal Justice and Criminology from Texas Christian University (TCU). Additionally, he is a graduate of the Southern Police Institute’s 137th Administrative Officers Course and TCU’s inaugural Leadership, Executive, and Administrative Development Program (L.E.A.D. #1).

His accomplishments include establishing a new Wellness Unit and his involvement in youth engagement programs such as Operation Progress, Read2Win, All Pro Dad, and the City of Fort Worth’s Education Initiative.

In a statement Fort Worth City Manager David Cooke praises Chief Noakes for his focus on community problem-solving and reducing crime, even despite Fort Worth’s population growth over the last decade.

“You’ve got to love the job to be good at being a police chief and he’s an extraordinary police chief," Cooke says. "If you hear him talk about the officers and the staff that work at the police department you get this beautiful understanding of what it’s like to be a police family. He leads the police department with that type of ethic and family feeling."

Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker says she has "nothing but respect" for Noakes' decision to retire and put family first.

"I’m so grateful to Neil, his wife, and his family for the more than 25 years of service, sacrifice, and leadership that he has provided to Fort Worth, Parker says. "He has led the Fort Worth Police Department through some of the most difficult times our city has faced with humility, transparency, and compassion for the community as his top priority. He is truly leaving this department better than he found it."

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