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Everyone knows Gene Roddenbarry as the creator of Star Trek, the most advanced and successful space exploration show ever done on Television. What you may not know, is Gene Roddenbarry was originally interested in police work during his high school years, even having ties to the FBI as a student liaison. He later studied aeronautical engineering and became a pilot. In 1941, Roddenbarry joined the Army's Air Corp as an aviator, distinguishing himself with many combat battles and earning the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal. After the army, he flew for Pan American World Airways, again earning recognition after his handling of a crash in the Syrian desert.

Roddenbarry left the airline to pursue a career in writing for television. He wrote for many different television shows during the fifties, including 'Have Gun, Will Travel. In 1964, he hit on the idea for Star Trek while trying to come up with something to rival 'Buck Rogers'. Star Trek actually wasn't an instant hit. But it gained a following and became even bigger when after three years it was canceled and went into syndication.

After the show ended, Roddenbarry tried to unsuccessfully pitch other science fiction plots to the television studios. He was unsuccessful until someone asked him about doing a sequel to Star Trek. The rest is history. After a few different 'Star Trek' TV series and several major production movies, Star Trek was practically a religion. It made Gene Roddenbarry one of the most successful science fiction writers in the industry. Since then Star Trek items have become collectibles and there are 'Trekkie' conventions still.

Gene Roddenbarry was presented with a star on Hollywood Blvd. in 1986. He died in 1991.

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