America's first astronaut of African-American heritage, he was born in Chicago Illinois. He received a BS in chemistry from Bradley University in 1956, and a doctorate in nuclear chemistry from Ohio State University in 1965. He was a Major in the USAF when selected for MOL Group 3 in 1967. On December 8, 1967, while practicing zoom landings in an F-104B with Major Harvey Royer, the F-104 came they were flying came in too low and hit the runway. Royer ejected and survived, but Lawrence was killed. He left behind a wife and one son.