Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 27, 1994 TAG: 9411120028
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DWIGHT FOXX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ROCKY MOUNT LENGTH: Long
He does not watch TV during the week. He doesn't have time. Between his classes at Franklin County High School, Governor's school classes at Patrick Henry High School, football practice and homework, Hurt does not feel his pillow against the side of his face until 1 a.m.
His work habits and discipline are two of the reasons he's carrying a 3.8 grade point average and has been the captain of the Eagles' defense for two consecutive years.
Hurt plans to attend the Air Force Academy, major in electrical engineering and become a fighter pilot. He attended a Summer Scientific Seminar at the Academy in Colorado Springs, Co. and knew it was the place for him.
"I've always had an interest in the military," the senior standout said. "I've always done well in math and science. It's a beautiful campus and it has real good academics."
While he was there, Hurt took a jump start on his intended major by taking classes in engineering, science, pilot training, navigating, parachuting and aircraft facility. He had to apply to the seminar as if he was going to the Academy and he had to pay his way.
But this is something that he has a burning desire to do in becoming a fighter pilot.
"I dreamed of doing that when I was small," he said of flying his own aircraft. "I met a couple of pilots when I was young. They, some commercial pilots, came and talked to me when I was in elementary school. I've always been real curious about flying; I want to do it [flying] as a career. I had to reach deep in my funds to go to Colorado Springs."
For his science project this year, Hurt is going to get a chance to fly his own aircraft with the help of his Governor School mentor, John Holmgren of Piedmont Airlines.
"We're working on a T-38 trainer plane," he said. "I haven't flown yet but he [Holmgren] says he's going to let me. There's going to be a video camera in the glider; he's [Holmgren] teaching me about turns and flight control. For my science project, I'm going to do a video presentation, changing the variables and the effects it has on a real aircraft."
Tom Cruise would not like what Hurt had to say about his movie, Top Gun. In the film, the actor broke all the rules to become the top fighter pilot at the Academy.
"The movie, Top Gun, is unrealistic to the real world," the three-year Governor's School student said. "In the real world, fighter pilots have strict guidelines they have to follow. The movie was not any representation to one who is looking to become a fighter pilot. It was a good movie but that's was about it."
The experiences of his uncle, Donnie King, and his grandfather, Harold E. King, have also inspired him. His uncle is a Senior Staff Electrical Engineer for Texas Instruments near Dallas and gives his nephew some real life.
"He flys all over the country and he designs things for military purposes," the youngster explains. "He brings videotapes of when he's flown to Russia; he has some Russians living with him now for a while. He's done amazingly well. He always tells me to go to school, get an education and you'll do well. He says that good electrical engineers are hard to find and that their firing electrical engineers everyday. That was some real life advice."
Grandfather King is a World War II veteran who was involved in most of the major invasions, including the boat landings at Iwo Jima and Normandy. He says his grandfather, whose teeth were blown out and who still has medal fragments in his right middle finger, doesn't like to talk about the horrors of war but he doesn't discourage him from joining the military.
"It's an honor to me to be able to serve my country," he said.
With classes like laboratory calculus, advanced college physics, advanced preparatory English and honors government, Hurt is preparing to reach his dream. He's taking the highest scholastic course possible in each class with the exception of laboratory calculus. Discrete calculus is the highest math he could have took in high school. He's excelled at every level of math, it's just that he ran out of time before he could take discrete calculus.
"It doesn't come to me," Hurt says of his academic success. "I have classes all day and I get home from football practice at 7 p.m. Football really tires you out; sometimes I have to force myself to do these things."
Hurt's GPA actually dropped from a 3.9 to a 3.8 after he received a 93 in Spanish at Governor's School. His grades at Franklin High School and Governor's School are combined.
"An A in Governor's School is 5.0," he said. You could be making B's and getting 4.0s." The high school grading system measures a 4.0 as an A , a 3.0 as a B , a 2.0 as a C, a 1.0 a D and O .0 an F.
It's his intelligent and skills that impress his football coaches. The linebacker is responsible for making all the defensive calls.
Franklin County head coach Horace Green and linebacker coach Pete Cotner credit Hurt's move from outside linebacker to middle linebacker, a position he's always played, from for the team's better defensive play. Teams were running away from him when he played outside linebacker; now, he can cover sideline-to-sideline.
Cotner added: "It's been fun coaching Steve. He's a pretty, intelligent player. He makes my job a lot easier; we put a lot of responsibility on him to make all the calls, audibles, front changes and coverages. We put him in charge on Friday night. He's one of the smartest players I've ever coached."
The linebacker coach added that his three-year starter has the intelligence and skill level to play college football and that he hopes he has the time.
America's future fighter pilot may play college football if it doesn't interfer with his goal.
"Football is a place I can release my frustation and have a good time," Hurt comments. "I like the strategy involved. I have to think and put my knowledge to physical use. After sitting in class all day, it's wonderful to come out here and have a good time."
by CNB