Norman Ryker helped design space program

Norman Ryker Jr., a Tacoma-born engineer who was one of the pioneers of the Apollo and space-shuttle programs, died at 79 last week in Santa Clarita, Calif.

Known for a leadership style he once described as "fair, firm and fast," Mr. Ryker was president of Rocketdyne, a rocket-engine design and production company, where he worked from 1951 to 1983, and was involved from the earliest stages in the United States' mission to put a man on the moon. As project engineer, he led the Rockwell (then North American Aviation) engineering team that developed the Apollo command and service modules.

He also led or participated in NASA task forces that selected the lunar-landing concept, established the Apollo flight-development plan and established the Apollo spacecraft configuration.

Mr. Ryker, who held bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of California, Berkeley, was considered a top spokesman for the Apollo program. His early technical career in missile and spacecraft engineering culminated with the first successful lunar landing.

In 1976, Mr. Ryker was appointed president of Rocketdyne at Rockwell International. During his tenure, Rocketdyne designed and produced engines for the space shuttle. They were the world's first reusable main liquid-hydrogen rocket engines.

After leaving Rocketdyne in 1983, Mr. Ryker became president and chief executive of Pneumo, an aerospace corporation, and CEO of Cross and Trecker, a major machine-tool manufacturer.

He retired in 1991. In 1981, he received NASA's highest award for nongovernment employees, the Distinguished Public Service Award.

Mr. Ryker adopted a regimen of strict diet and exercise after a heart attack in 1965. He competed in quarter-horse cutting events, and he took up polo in his 60s. During his 70s, he returned to Seattle, where he became a fan of Seattle Opera.

Mr. Ryker is survived by his daughters Jeanne Flores of Santa Clarita, Calif., Tina Ryker of Renton, Victoria Risley of Rochester, Ill., and Kathryn Stewart of El Paso, Texas; and by his son, Norman J. Ryker III of Chico, Calif. He is also survived by his sisters Jackie Loyer of Roy, Pierce County, and Lynn Larsen of Puyallup; brother, Brad Ryker of Tacoma; eight grandchildren; and former wives Kathleen Ryker of Renton and Judy Schneider of Maryland.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers contributions be sent to the University of California, Berkeley, Engineering Fund (208 McLaughlin Hall, No. 1722, Berkeley, CA 94720) or to Seattle Opera (P.O. Box 9248, Seattle, WA 98109).