Biography

Lived in Lake Forest, Illinois, an affluent suburb of Chicago. His family operates an upscale restaurant in Lake Forest, called Lovell's; his son, Jay, is the head chef.

During the Apollo 8 mission, Lovell and the other crew members did a Christmas Eve broadcast in which they read some passages from the Bible and wished everyone on Earth a Merry Christmas. The following day, Lovell jokingly told Mission Control that he had seen Santa Claus.

United States Naval Officer who began his career in May 1946 after enlisting in the U.S. Naval Reserve. In 1948, after two years of inactive reserve duty, was discharged from enlisted status to receive appointment to the Naval Academy. Graduated in June 1952 to receive commission as an Ensign, USN, under the service number 507205. Served as a Naval Aviator, Experimental Test Pilot, and later Command Astronaut until February 1973. Retired February 29, 1973 in the grade of Captain, United States Navy.

Was turned down for selection to become one of the original seven Mercury astronauts in 1959. He subsequently succeeded in becoming one of the nine new astronauts (aka "The Gemini Nine" or "The New Nine") selected for the upcoming Gemini and Apollo programs in September of 1962.

Has a major street named in his honor in Milwaukee, Wisconsin