Wilson joined UAH in 1972 as faculty in the Deparment of Biological Sciences and served as the Dean of the College of Science from 1984 until his death in 1991. The photograph shows members of his family viewing the portrait.
The photo may have been taken at an event celebrating Davis' flight on either STS-47 in 1992 or STS-60 in 1994. The banner in the background reads, "Jan Davis / A Golden Homecoming."
The float was made by Marshall Space Flight Center. Von Braun Research Hall can be seen in the background. The photo likely dates from the 1980s or early 1990s, when the NASA worm logo was still in use, as seen on the sides of the float.
"UAH's beautiful Noojin House is the scene of TGIF's monthly alumni social. Located at 3300 Holmes Ave. in Huntsville, the home was donated in 1983 by F. Kenneth Noojin to UAH."
The flood was caused by a broken pipe. Community Housing was located at the corner of Lancewood Drive and University Drive. The Twin Oaks Apartments can be seen in the background.
Tom Bevill is shown at center. Also attending the ribbon cutting are Bill Chappel Jr., U.S. Rep. Ronnie Flippo, Dr. Walter G. Nunn, and Lt. Gen. E.R. Heiberg III.
UAH organized the conference as part of the annual John Sparkman Symposium on United States Foreign Policy. According to the 1979 conference proceedings, the symposium was "founded to bring major issues in United States foreign policy to public discussion by providing a forum in which scholars and experts from government or the private sector might meet." The conference featured speakers including historians, military officers, political scientists, and politicians from Huntsville and across the United States.