A Familiar Connection
Bob Walsh
Robert "Bob" Walsh was an important figure who played several key roles in organizing Europe America Space Flight 500, as well as the choice of Seattle as host city.
A Seattle-based entrepreneur, consultant, and humanitarian, Walsh had experience fostering links between the two former adversaries. He notably helped bring the 1990 Goodwill Games to Seattle, an event which soothed US-Soviet tensions during the Cold War.
Due to his experience and previous work, Walsh became one the leading American organizer for the new United States-Russia joint project; a physical link between Seattle's Cold War efforts at reconciliation and the post-war Space Flight 500.
Walsh himself, in conjuction with his marketing firm Bob Walsh & Associates, wrote the mission's press releases, planned the schedule of events, organized meetings, and coordinated with various Russian backing companies and Seattle's city council to bring Space Flight 500 to Seattle.
As a result of his efforts Europe America Space Flight 500's mission and celebrations, dubbed "the world's biggest Thanksgiving party" by Walsh himself, were successful, and reinforced Seattle's role in cultivating lasting international bonds.
Bob Walsh passed away in 2017, at the age of 77.