New space race an old frontier for Daytona Beach
by Aaron London
Larry Kelly
For most transplants to the Sunshine State in the early 1960s , the sight of palm trees swaying in the breeze and white sandy beaches is enough to lure them south . But for an intrepid group of newcomers , Florida ’ s easy climate and comfortable lifestyle was secondary to the adventure of playing a leading role in conquering a new frontier in space . Larry Kelly , who one day would serve as mayor of Daytona Beach , was one of those space pioneers . Arriving in Florida in 1963 , Kelly joined thousands of other men and women to work at General Electric ’ s Apollo Systems Department , headquartered in Daytona Beach .
While the facility is now the site of an Italian restaurant , the legacy of the work done there by Kelly and others was instrumental in the successful landing of Americans on the moon and is the foundation of current efforts to make Volusia County an essential part of the growing commercial space boom .
“ We built all the acceptance checkout equipment that made it possible for men to go to the moon ,” Kelly said .
At its peak in 1966 , GE employed nearly 3,000 people in Daytona Beach creating a high-tech sector to the area ’ s economy where none had existed before .
General Electric electronics plant - Daytona Beach , Florida
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