The resolution expresses deep sorrow over the passing of James Lee "Jim" Splawn on March 5, 2024, at the age of 90. Jim Splawn, born in Upton, Kentucky, was a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology and had a distinguished career as an engineer and manager at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. He made significant contributions to the U.S. space program, including the Saturn I, Saturn V, Apollo, Skylab, and Space Shuttle Programs. Notably, he co-founded the concept of "Neutral Buoyancy Simulation" to simulate weightlessness in space and contributed to the development of the Space Shuttle Main Engine.

After retiring from NASA in 1984, Jim Splawn became a successful entrepreneur and later worked with Boeing in Business Development for space technologies. He was actively involved in various community and civic organizations and was a long-standing member of the First Baptist Church. Jim was married to Jo Ann Helton Splawn for 68 years and is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sisters, and extended family. The resolution honors his life and service, offering sympathy to his family and recognizing that his memory will be cherished by those who knew him.