THE EVENING WORLD HERALD

Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.A.

18 June 1952

(page 29)

Death of Rocket Expert in Blast

Has Tragic Aftermath.

Pasadena, Cal., Police Officer Ernie Hovard examines the scene of an explosion in a garage where John W. Parsons [Jack Parsons], 31, a rocket propulsion expert, died in an explosion Tuesday. In a tragic aftermath, Mrs. Ruth Virginia Parsons, Mr. Parson's mother, died from what police said was an overdose of sleeping pills. Police said the blast apparently was touched off when Mr. Parsons dropped some bottled explosives he was packing for a trip into Mexico.