From a Log Cabin to the Stars

During his three terms as State's Attorney Dr. Olsen prosecuted many criminals, and he was elected president of the State's Attorney's Association. He was later elected president of the Alabama Federal Bar Association, President of the Arizona Federal Bar Association, and national secretary of the Association of Federal Investigators.

As Attorney-Advisor General with the U. S. Air Force Dr. Olsen was named the Civil Servant of the Year at Ellsworth AFB. He was instrumental in closing a road that ran through a nuclear warhead storage area so civilians would be unable to access it. The north half of Ellsworth AFB is located in Mead County. One of the Missile Control centers is located next to his grandfather's ranch where Dr. Olsen was born in the log cabin. Dr. Olsen invited the Mead County Commissioners to meet at the Officers Club on the base. In turn, Dr. Olsen, General Neeley, the Aerospace Division Commander, Col. Cordingly, the Staff Judge Advocate, and Col. Petrul, the Base Commander were invited to a steak fry at a cabin in the woods owned by the State Senator from Mead County.

After the Shuttle Challenger explosion, Dr. Olsen reviewed the contract for the Solid Rocket Booster, and found that the contract specifications for the "O" rings required that they perform normally at temperatures down to 40 degrees below zero. It therefore appears that either the "O" rings were not manufactured in accordance with the contract specifications, or there was sabotage.

While conducting and supervising investigations at the Johnson Space Center, Dr. Olsen was involved in a shooting at his motel. There were no injuries, but Dr. Olsen's rental car had 3 or 4 bullet holes.

Just before the start of a Federal criminal trial of a lady accused of stealing gold salvaged from surplus rocket engines, a key witness was found murdered. The U. S. Attorney refused to get involved, saying that murder was a state offense. Dr. Olsen could not convince him that he could charge her with tampering with a federal witness.