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In The Beginning Nebraska Science Fiction Convention Timeline1975 - 1989 "And Ghu said, 'Let there be con.' And there was con." 1975 Long before conventions ever came to Nebraska, Leonard Nimoy did. He was part of a university lecture circuit, coming to Omaha to help publicize his book, I Am Not Spock. Nimoy would return to Omaha three years later to speak at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. 1977 or 1978 George Takei had a one day event in Lincoln - in either 1977 or 1978. 1979 Micron I, a one-day affair held in December 1979, was Omaha’s, and possibly Nebraska's, first convention. 1981 Electracon 1 in Kearney was Nebraska’s first three-day convention and first recurring convention. It was held May 15-17, 1981 at the Kearney Ramada Inn with guests Ed Bryant, Suzanne Carnival, Jim Humphries, and Dan Patterson. Omacon 1 was a one-day convention held June 20, 1981 at the Second Unitarian Church. Sponsored by the Nebraskans for the Advancement of Space Development (NASD), Omacon brought these guests to the Omaha metro area: John Varley for science fiction, Kenneth Flint for fantasy, and Stan Nevins for space. It was to be the first recurring convention in the Omaha metro area..
1982 Electracon 2 was again held at the Kearney Ramada Inn, June 18-20, 1982. Guests were Wilson “Bob” Tucker, Steve Gray, Ed Bryant, Mike Kennedy, Darrell Anderson, Suzanne Carnival, Frederick Mayer, Scott Kerns, Nancy Nutt, and Dan Patterson. Omacon 2 was expanded in 1982 to a three-day event held August 6-8 and featured dual Author Guests of Honor Frederick Pohl and Jack Williamson. Steven R. Gray was Artist GOH, Bjo Trimble was Fan GOH, Dr. Thomas R. McDonough was Pro-Space GOH, and Wilson (Bob) Tucker was Toastmaster. Stan and Carol Nevins, Betsy Mitchall, Kenneth Flint, Melinda (M.S.) Murdock, David Lee Anderson, Mike Kennedy, Frederick Mayer, and Pat Kennedy rounded out their guest list. Karl-Kon 1 was a one-day private fan party held by Karl Rasmussen at Star Realm, then located at 108th and Q Streets. 1983 Love of Trek ’83 was the first SF convention in Nebraska devoted to media personalities. It was held February 11-13, 1983 at the Holiday Inn Central. The Guests of Honor were DeForest Kelley and Walter Koenig. Richard and Wendy Pini were Artist GOHs (though only Richard was able to attend), Bjo Trimble was Fan GOH and Jesco Von Puttkamer was the Pro-Space GOH. Additional artist guests included Ann Crouch, Steven Gray, Dan Huckins, Linda Romano, and Fred Von Tobel. On Monday, February 14, 1983, the UNO Student Programming Organization brought James ("Scotty") Doohan onto campus for the evening to speak. The event was billed on campus as "Star Trekking With Scotty" and in the Love of Trek program book as "Scotty Beams Down." ElectraCon 3 was once again at the Kearney Ramada Inn, June 3-5, 1983 with guests Lee and Pat Killough, David Lee Anderson, Ken Keller, Ed Bryant, Wilson “Bob” Tucker, Frederick Mayer, Stan and Carol Nevins, Dan Patterson, Dell Harris, Klaus Yurk, and Suzanne Carnival. There was an "interesting" poker game held with David Lee Anderson and Dell Harris, during which a loudly-snoring fan was folded into the davenport to restore peace to the universe. Omacon 3 was held August 5-7, 1983 at the Omaha Sheraton Inn. Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle were Author Guests of Honor, Mike Brown was Artist GOH, Bjo Trimble was Fan GOH, and Dr. Thomas R. McDonough was Pro-Space GOH. Joe F. Martin, Dan Charleston, Melinda (M.S.) Murdock, David Lee Anderson, Pat Kennedy, Larry Leeds, and Stan and Carol Nevins were Friends of the Con. Karl-Kon 2 was held October 1, 1983 at Star Realm on 108th and Q Streets.
1984 ElectraCon 4 was held at the Fort Kearney Inn on June 22-24, 1984 with guests George R.R. Martin, Dell Harris, Ed Bryant, Jim and Susan Satterfield, Suzanne Carnival, Fred Maye Omacon 4 was August 3-5, 1984 at the Holiday Inn Old Mill on 108th Street. Poul and Karen Anderson and Melinda (M.S.) Murdock were Author Guests of Honor, David Lee Anderson and Dell Harris were Artist GOHs, Dan Charleston was Fan Guest of Honor, and Merle M. Rasmussen and Karl-Kon 3 was a three-day event held at Star Realm at 108th and Q Streets. Steven Gray was Artist Guest of Honor and Barbara Hill was Fan GOH. The neighboring McDonald's served as the Karl-Kon 3 con suite and banquet site.
1985 Omacon 5 was held on August 2-4, 1985 at the Holiday Inn Central, 72nd and Grover Streets. C.J. Cherryh and Melinda (M.S.) Murdock were Author Guests of Honor, Robert (J.R.) Daniels Karl-Kon 4 was held at the Grover Off-Tracking Betting Service, 50th & Grover Street, in Omaha, NE on September 28-30, 1985. The guests that year were artist Mike Cole and radio personality Diver Dan Doomey, then of Z-92 (KEZO), who was married to Karl Rasmussen's sister.
1986 Omacon 6 was held August 1-3, 1986 at the Holiday Inn Central in Omaha. Alan Dean Foster was the Author Guest of Honor, Lucy Synk was Artist GOH, Richard Carpenter was Media GOH, Art Bozlee was Pro-Space GOH, and Roger Stern was the Comics Guest of Honor. The annual event that is now known as Mage-Con South was Sioux City Wargames, and started as a free event to promote historical board and miniature gaming. (Thus, no RPGs, and no entry fee.) Sioux City Wargames I was a two day event, September 27 and 28, 1986.
1987 Omacon 7 was held August 7-9, 1987 at the Holiday Inn Central. Susan Sackett was Author Guest of Honor, Andrew Probert was Artist GOH, Bjo Trimble was Fan GOH, and Art Bozlee was Pro-Space GOH. Teri Meyer, Melinda S. Murdock, Mike Brown, Lucy Synk, Robert (J.R.) Daniels, and Steven Gray were Friends of the Con. Norman McMullen ran the New Omaha Vehicular Association (N.O.V.A.) ran a themed video room for enthusiasts of the Car Wars miniatures game.
1988 Omacon 8 was held August 5-7, 1988 at the Holiday Inn Central and was dubbed "Aerobicon" because the convention rooms were spread out at the far corners of the hotel. Steven Brust was the Author Guest of Honor (the con rooms were named in honor of his books), Robert (J.R.) Daniels was Artist GOH, Merle Rasmussen (no relation to Karl Rasmussen) was Gaming GOH, Robert B. Gounley of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory was Pro-Space GOH, and Roger Stern was Comics GOH. Harry Jordan, Mike Brown, Steven Gray, Melinda (M.S.) Murdock, Angela Bostick, and Rick Lowry were Friends of the Con.
1989 The first Omacon 9 was held August 4-6, 1989 at the Holiday Inn Central. Local author Kenneth Flint was the Author Guest of Honor, while Wendy Pini was the Artist GOH, G. Harry Stine was Pro-Space GOH, and Merle Rasmussen was Gaming GOH. Melinda S. Murdock and Harry Jordan were among the Friends of the Con. A second Creation event was November 25-26, 1989 held at the Omaha Red Lion Inn with Walter Koenig (Chekov) as guest.
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