Unveiling Event

On June 24, 2006, U-Haul Company of West Virginia and the U-Haul Media and Public Relations Department teamed up with the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank, West Virginia during Star Quest III to unveil the latest SuperGraphic, representing the state of West Virginia. Marketing Company President (MCP) Jeff Bowles, UHC of West Virginia (Co. 821), spoke to an excited crowd of more than 300 people before the veil was drawn and the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope SuperGraphic was officially revealed to the public.

Bowles presented the following special guests with plaques: Bill Hartman, West Virginia state delegate; Bill Proudfoot, West Virginia state delegate; Sue Ann Heatherly, education officer of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory; Mike Holstine, business manager of the NRAO; Dr. Ron Maddalena, NRAO; Seth Shostak, senior astronomer with the SETI Institute, and Mel Hobbs, executive director of the Pocahontas County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Also receiving plaques were Pocahontas County Commissioners Reta Griffith and James Carpenter.

U-Haul selected the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope to represent the state of West Virginia because it is the largest fully steerable radio telescope in the world; it captures astronomical mysteries with cosmic radio waves. Scientists from around the globe visit the NRAO in Green Bank to use its instruments to probe fundamental questions in astronomy and physics. More information about the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia is available on the U-Haul Web site.