Hildreth “Hal” Walker Jr., a pioneering laser scientist and dedicated STEM advocate, died Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, at 91 in Cape Town, South Africa.

Walker was renowned for his contribution to the Apollo 11 Moon Landing in 1969, when he became the first person to successfully fire the KORAD-1500 Ruby Laser to the Moon. Known as the Lunar Ranging Experiment (LURE), it was the only interactive planetary experiment conducted during the Apollo 11 mission. The experiment used a retroreflector array placed on the lunar surface by astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to measure the Earth to moon distance with unprecedented precision.

LURE provided critical data on the moon’s orbit, Earth’s rotation and the gradual drift of the moon away from Earth.

This success demonstrated the potential of laser technology for space exploration and set the foundation for decades of lunar research.

In 1994, Walker’s work was honored with a recreation of his historic experiment in the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. The exhibit, “The New Moon,” in the museum’s permanent “Science in American Life” section, celebrated his contributions to science and innovation.

Beyond his work in laser science, Walker was a tireless advocate for STEM education. He co-founded the African- American Male Achievers Network, Inc. (A-MAN) with his wife, Bettye Walker. The nonprofit organization focuses on empowering African-American and minority students through science and mathematics programs. At the invitation of President Nelson Mandela, the couple established A-MAN, Inc., in South Africa, bringing science and technology education to township schools across the country.

Walker graduated cum laude from Pacific Christian College with a bachelor’s in business technology management. He was a lifetime member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, and held leadership roles in the fraternity’s Los Angeles Alumni Chapter and the Cape Town - Western Cape Alumni Chapter in South Africa. He also was a member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Delta Xi Chapter, and served as president of the National Space Society of South Africa.

He is survived by his wife, two children, Allison and Raymond, and seven grandchildren: Raishauna, Justin, Kara, Lance, Nile, Mecca and Asia.