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Current Issue Links
Author wins regional award
Allison Butler (left), head of the judging panel for the Society for Technical Communication's regional awards
competition, presents a Best of Show plaque to Elizabeth "Liz" Babcock for her book, "Magnificent Mavericks",
the story of the Navy at China Lake 1948-58. Courtesy photo
competition, presents a Best of Show plaque to Elizabeth "Liz" Babcock for her book, "Magnificent Mavericks",
the story of the Navy at China Lake 1948-58. Courtesy photo
When Ridgecrest author Elizabeth “Liz” Babcock attended a Society for Technical Communication regional
awards banquet March 6 in San Juan Capistrano, she knew she had won a blue ribbon in her category.
She was delighted to discover that Best of Show in the Spotlight Awards, a regional technical publications
competition for an area encompassing Southern California, Nevada and Hawaii, had been awarded to her
book, “Magnificent Mavericks,” a history of the Navy at China Lake.
“Although lots of technical and military-specific terminology is used throughout, the book reads like a good
novel,” said one of the judges.
“The subject matter is well documented and focuses not only on technology, events, and dates, which it
does very well, but also on the human aspects of the place and time.
“The book generously presents the thoughts and emotions of the people who made or reported on the
history, giving readers a more complete perspective.”
Another judge called the book “a pleasure to read; balancing human interest with the details of developing
naval technology,” and added that “The detail presented in the book in other, less skillful hands could be
tedious reading, but here it comes alive and is energizing and fascinating.”
Babcock commented that she is gratified to be recognized by her peers in the technical communication
field, the area that occupied most of her career as a civil servant for the Navy.
“I knew China Lake alumni would enjoy reading about themselves, but it’s wonderful to see that the book is
also interesting to people who knew nothing about the Navy’s work here before they began to read my book.”
As the winner of the Spotlight Awards competition, “Magnificent Mavericks” became eligible for entry in STC’
s international competition.
The winners of that competition will be announced at STC’s annual conference this May in Dallas.
“Magnificent Mavericks” encompasses the years 1948 to 1958 at China Lake, years that retirees look back
on with nostalgia as “the fun years.”
The hardcover version of the book was published in December 2008 by the Naval Historical Center and the
Naval Air Systems Command, Washington, D.C., with the paperback version published by the China Lake
Museum Foundation in January 2009. Both versions are available from the U.S. Naval Museum of Armament
and Technology, with the paperback also on sale at the Maturango Museum and Red Rock Books in
Ridgecrest.
The author is a member of STC and of Ridge Writers, the East Sierra Branch of the California Writers
Club. She retired in 1996 from a 24-year career as a civil servant at China Lake, during which she served as
head of the Publications Division, head of the Technical Library Division and head of staff for the Supply
Department, earning her master’s in public administration from California State University, Bakersfield, along
the way.
Her current schedule involves three part-time jobs: copy editor for the News Review newspaper, staff writer for
the Ridgecrest Chamber of Commerce and curator for history at the Maturango Museum. She also works
intermittently as a technical editor for SURVICE Engineering.
In what spare time she has, she is the newsletter editor for both Ridge Writers and the Historical Society of
the Upper Mojave Desert.
Born in Lansing, Mich., Liz graduated with a degree in English literature from Kalamazoo College in 1960,
the same year she and her then-husband came to the Indian Wells Valley. She is the proud mother of two and
grandmother of two.
awards banquet March 6 in San Juan Capistrano, she knew she had won a blue ribbon in her category.
She was delighted to discover that Best of Show in the Spotlight Awards, a regional technical publications
competition for an area encompassing Southern California, Nevada and Hawaii, had been awarded to her
book, “Magnificent Mavericks,” a history of the Navy at China Lake.
“Although lots of technical and military-specific terminology is used throughout, the book reads like a good
novel,” said one of the judges.
“The subject matter is well documented and focuses not only on technology, events, and dates, which it
does very well, but also on the human aspects of the place and time.
“The book generously presents the thoughts and emotions of the people who made or reported on the
history, giving readers a more complete perspective.”
Another judge called the book “a pleasure to read; balancing human interest with the details of developing
naval technology,” and added that “The detail presented in the book in other, less skillful hands could be
tedious reading, but here it comes alive and is energizing and fascinating.”
Babcock commented that she is gratified to be recognized by her peers in the technical communication
field, the area that occupied most of her career as a civil servant for the Navy.
“I knew China Lake alumni would enjoy reading about themselves, but it’s wonderful to see that the book is
also interesting to people who knew nothing about the Navy’s work here before they began to read my book.”
As the winner of the Spotlight Awards competition, “Magnificent Mavericks” became eligible for entry in STC’
s international competition.
The winners of that competition will be announced at STC’s annual conference this May in Dallas.
“Magnificent Mavericks” encompasses the years 1948 to 1958 at China Lake, years that retirees look back
on with nostalgia as “the fun years.”
The hardcover version of the book was published in December 2008 by the Naval Historical Center and the
Naval Air Systems Command, Washington, D.C., with the paperback version published by the China Lake
Museum Foundation in January 2009. Both versions are available from the U.S. Naval Museum of Armament
and Technology, with the paperback also on sale at the Maturango Museum and Red Rock Books in
Ridgecrest.
The author is a member of STC and of Ridge Writers, the East Sierra Branch of the California Writers
Club. She retired in 1996 from a 24-year career as a civil servant at China Lake, during which she served as
head of the Publications Division, head of the Technical Library Division and head of staff for the Supply
Department, earning her master’s in public administration from California State University, Bakersfield, along
the way.
Her current schedule involves three part-time jobs: copy editor for the News Review newspaper, staff writer for
the Ridgecrest Chamber of Commerce and curator for history at the Maturango Museum. She also works
intermittently as a technical editor for SURVICE Engineering.
In what spare time she has, she is the newsletter editor for both Ridge Writers and the Historical Society of
the Upper Mojave Desert.
Born in Lansing, Mich., Liz graduated with a degree in English literature from Kalamazoo College in 1960,
the same year she and her then-husband came to the Indian Wells Valley. She is the proud mother of two and
grandmother of two.
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