GROUPS AND IF THERE IS A DRIVE-THRU OPTION. SEARCHS HAVE INCREASED IMMENSELY THIS YEAR. >>> TONIGHT WE REMEMBER WILLIAM WHOM HE INTERVIEWED IN RALEIGH IN 2010. SCOTT MASON SALUTE AS LEGENDARY ASTRONAUT AND NORTH CAROLINA HERO. >> AND BELIEVE YOU ME THE MOST COMPLEX, MOST BEAUTIFUL THING IN THE UNIVERSE THE HUMAN BODY. >> BILL THORNSTUDIED THE HUMAN BOD ANYTON -- THORNTON STUDIED THE HUMAN BODY IN SPACE. >> MY BLOOD PRESSURE FELL 20 POINTS BECAUSE I WAS SO RELIEVED THAT ALL THOSE PEOPLE WERE GOING TO GET TO SEE A LAUNCH. >> BILL THORNTON GROW UP IN DUPLIN COUNTY. HE BECAME AN ASTRONAUT IN 1967. >> REMEMBER IT WAS A WIDE OPEN FIELD. >> THORNTON WAS ONE OF NASA'S PIONEERS. HE STUDIED WHAT WEIGHTLESSNESS DOES TO ASTRONAUTS AND TO ANIMALS. >> AND HERE IS -- ONE OF OUR FRIENDS. >> THORNTON'S EXPERIENCE HELPED MAKE ASTRONAUTS SAFER FOR SPACE AND KEPT THEM IN SHAPE. HE INVENTED A SHUTTLE TREADMILL. >> I'M STILL THE ONLY PERSON WHO RUN AROUND THE WORLD ON THE FRIDAY MILL, ON THE TREADMILL THAT HE DESIGNED. . >> IT WAS NOT ANYTHING I EXPECTED WHEN WE GOT MARRIED. >> THIS IS A TREMENDOUS ACQUISITION FOR THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA. >> BILL THORNTON SIGNS THE PAPER THAT WILL BRING HIS COLLECTION OF WORK TO THE STATE ARCHIVES. >> HE HAS LOGGED OVER 300 HOURS IN SPACE. I CAN'T WAIT TO PUT MY HANDS IN THOSE PAPERS. >> IT HASN'T BEEN OUT OF THE BOX SINCE I RECEIVED IT. IT HAS BEEN PACKED UP. >> HE IS IN MANY WAY AS NORTH CAROLINA HERO WHO STILL FEELS AT HOME HERE EVEN AFTER TRAVELING MORE THAN 5 MILLION MILES. >> I CONSIDERED MYSELF ONE OF THE LUCKIEST BEINGS ALIVE. >> WHAT A LIFE. BILL THORNTON DIED THIS MONTH AT