Technology Oregon Man Behind Decision to Blow up Whale Dies
An Oregon highway engineer whose 1970 decision to use a half-ton of
dynamite to blast away a beached dead whale became an Internet sensation
has died. George Thomas Thornton was 84.
The Oregon Department of Transportation says Thornton was a highly respected engineer who worked for the agency for 37 years.
In November 1970, he got the call to remove a 45-foot-long sperm whale
that washed up near Florence. He decided to use dynamite to disintegrate
the animal. The blast rained down pieces of whale that covered
spectators and flattened the roof of a car.
A Portland TV station filmed the explosion, and it was broadcast widely.
The video of the whale explosion remains a popular feature on YouTube.
Perl Funeral Home in Medford confirmed Thornton died Oct. 27. His family declined to comment.
Technology Oregon Man Behind Decision to Blow up Whale Dies 
