Jerry Wiseman KIdd

Jerry Wiseman Kidd, age 76, died Monday, April 7, 2014 at West Hills Hospital in West Hills, CA. He was born on January 24, 1938 to James Wallace Kidd and Sarah Elizabeth Wiseman Kidd in Pontotoc County, MS. He began is NASA career in 1962 at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Al. He worked as a structural engineer on the Saturn Rocket Stages for the Apollo program. In 1972 he transferred to Canoga Park, CA, for development of the Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSME). He served as the NASA Engineer on-site where the engines were designed and built. The SSME is the most sophisticated and highest performing rocket engine ever designed. Engine hardware had to endure extreme pressures, up to 7500 psi, and the temperature range of -420 degrees to 6000 degrees. It was a tough piece of machinery to manufacture and much of the hardware did not meet the exacting standards. He developed the review process to evaluate discrepant hardware, which was named Material Review (MR). As the Space Shuttle began flying in 1981 the MR process had to evaluate hundreds of items every day. He was the MR Board Chairman, and at its peak, the board would convene twice a day, for a 2 hour meeting, in the morning and afternoon. His diligence paid off and made the SSME the most reliable component on the Space Shuttle Vehicle. The SSME launched 135 missions and performed flawlessly. His MR process is used even today on the development of the Space Launch Systems rocket engines and his legacy continues. He developed a great working relationship with the Rocketdyne and NASA engineers and was well respected within the community.

A private graveside services will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, April 17, 2014 at Springville Cemetery in Pontotoc County, MS, with Rev. Pete Gregory officiating. Browning Funeral Home in Pontotoc, MS is in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include his wife: Johnsie “Ruby” Kidd of Woodland Hills, CA; his three daughters: Laurie Kidd Aylor and husband Bret M. Aylor of Allen, TX, Julia “Beth” Verdon and husband Robert Verdon of Plano, TX and Tara E. Kidd of Semi Valley, CA; a step-daughter: Suzanne Schuster of Woodland Hills, CA; his sister: Linda Carruthers and husband Charles Carruthers of Belden, MS; two grandsons: Austin Aylor and Ryan Aylor; and a host of cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife: Loraine Taylor Kidd.

Pallbearers will be: Bret Aylor, Austin Aylor, Ryan Aylor, Charles Carruthers, Billy Kidd and Jackie Kidd.

Condolences may be offered at www.browningpontotoc.com