Former astronaut and U.S. Sen. John Glenn speaks at a ceremony honoring him and the newly named John Glenn College of Public Affairs on April 24, 2015 at Page Hall. Credit: Lantern File Photo
Former U.S. Sen. John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth, has been hospitalized at the James Cancer Hospital at Ohio State.
Glenn, 95, was admitted to the hospital a little more than a week ago, Hank Wilson, a spokesman for the John Glenn College of Public Affairs, said on Wednesday.
Wilson could not speak as to why Glenn had been hospitalized. Glenn underwent replacement heart-valve surgery in 2014. He has reportedly said in 2015 he suffered a stroke and has macular degeneration, according to the Associated Press.
The John Glenn College of Public Affairs is named in his honor with the hope of inspiring civic leadership and engagement. From 1974 to 1999, Glenn served as a U.S. senator from Ohio.
“All you have to do is look at the front page of the paper or watch TV news to know how badly we need good leadership, not only in Washington but up and down the line: in our communities, our state and our nation,” Glenn said during the college’s ribbon-cutting ceremony in April 2015.
Annie and John Glenn Avenue was dedicated last year in place of campus’ West 17th Avenue, and Columbus’ international airport was named in his honor this summer.
