1. Sonny Carter graduated from Lanier High School in Macon in 1965, and during his high school years was actively involved in the Macon-based Troop 19 of the Boy Scouts of America, where he served a term as Senior Patrol Leader, the highest leadership position for a young man in that BSA troop, and earned its highest rank of Eagle Scout.
Sonny Carter played collegiate soccer and ran track while an undergraduate at Emory University.
Sonny Carter played professional soccer while he attended medical school.
In 1974, Sonny Carter entered the US Navy and completed flight surgeon school in Pensacola, Florida.
Sonny Carter was reassigned as a fighter pilot, flying F-4 Phantoms with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 333 at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina.
Sonny Carter then attended the US Naval Test Pilot School, graduating in June 1984.
Sonny Carter was assigned as Extra-vehicular activity Representative for the Mission Development Branch of the Astronaut Office when selected to the crew of STS-33.
At the time of his death in April 1991, Sonny Carter was assigned as mission specialist 3 on the crew of STS-42 Discovery, the first International Microgravity Laboratory.
Sonny Carter died in the April 5,1991, crash of Atlantic Southeast Airlines Flight 2311 in Brunswick, Georgia.
Sonny Carter was aboard the commercial airplane traveling for NASA.
Sonny Carter's death occurred on the same day as the landing of the Space Shuttle Atlantis on mission STS-37.
Sonny Carter was a member of the Society of US Naval Flight Surgeons, Sigma Delta Psi, Alpha Omega Alpha, Alpha Tau Omega, the Marine Corps Aviation Association, the Tailhook Association, and the Society of Experimental Test Pilots.
Sonny Carter was the Guest of Honor at the 215th Marine Corps Birthday Ball.
Sonny Carter's name was the first added after the memorial's original construction.