George Edward Pendray

George Edward Pendray
G.E. Pendray with rocket fueling device
Born	(1901-05-19)May 19, 1901 Omaha, Nebraska
Died	September 15, 1987 (1987-09-16) (aged 86) Cranbury, New Jersey
Occupation	public relations counsel, author, rocketeer, business executive
Known for	public relations, "time capsule"
Spouse(s)	Leatrice M. Gregory
Parent(s)	John Hall Pendray / Louisa (Wolfe)

George Edward Pendray (19 May 1901 in Omaha, Nebraska – 15 September 1987 in Cranbury, New Jersey) was an American public relations counselor, author, foundation executive, and an early advocate of rockets and spaceflight.

Pendray was born in Omaha, Nebraska, to John Hall Pendray and his wife, Louisa Wolfe. He grew up in Niobrara County, Wyoming. and attended the University of Wyoming, graduating in 1924. He then went to Columbia University, where he received his Master of Arts degree in 1925. Two years later, he married Leatrice M. Gregory. They had three daughters: Guenever, Elaine, and Lynette.

Pendray became an editor at the New York Herald-Tribune after completing his graduate work at Columbia University. He remained at the Tribune for seven years. A science fiction enthusiast, he applied that interest as a science editor for Literary Digest from 1932 to 1936 . He was next hired at Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company as assistant to the president. One of his responsibilities was public relations in advance of the 1939 New York World's Fair. He created what he called a "time capsule", to preserve everyday items in a sealed container for future historians. Pendray also created the word laundromat for Westinghouse.

Pendray's primary employment was in public relations; however, he always was interested in rocketry. He was an early experimenter with liquid propulsion rockets. Pendray was a contemporary of Robert H. Goddard, whose papers he later edited with Goddard's widow. Pendray and his associates worked on the beginnings of rocket development and technology, which led to his founding of the American Interplanetary Society [which was renamed the American Rocket Society (ARS)] in 1930. This organization is now the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), and awards the "G. Edward Pendray Award" in recognition of his achievements.