RIP Bill Haast

EricRoscoe2

Arachnopeon
Joined
Mar 10, 2009
Messages
19
Florida snake expert dies at 100

MIAMI -- Florida snake expert Bill Haast has died. He was 100.

His wife Nancy says Haast died Wednesday evening.

Haast remained director of Miami Serpentarium Laboratories near Punta Gorda until his death. The original Miami Serpentarium, located south of Miami, was in operation from 1947 to 1984. Guests would pay admission to watch Haast extract venom from snakes. Haast, a pioneer in extracting large quantities of venom for research, began the practice when he was a boy.

Haast moved to Utah in 1984 but returned to Florida six years later. That's when he opened the new Punta Gorda facility, which continues to produce snake venom for medical and research use.

Soon after opening the Serpentarium, Haast began injecting himself with different types of cobra venom in order to develop immunity.
www.miamiherald.com/2011/06/17/2271862_florida-snake-expert-dies-at-100.html#storylink=addthis
 

MOBugGuy

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
Nov 27, 2009
Messages
183
That sucks he taught my uncles about hots when they were teenagers back in the day.
 

the toe cutter

Arachnobaron
Old Timer
Joined
Mar 20, 2010
Messages
424
Ole' Bill will be missed in the Hot Herp Society and around the country. He has been educating people about reptiles for longer than probably anyone here has lived. RIP
 

findi

Arachnodemon
Old Timer
Joined
Aug 31, 2009
Messages
698
Indeed! here's a link to the NY Times obit; I'm planning an article soon on ThatReptileBlog, will post a notice here,

Stay well, Frank
 

Lolita

Arachnoknight
Joined
Jan 9, 2011
Messages
185
it's a real shame my parents knew him personally and i never got the chance to meet him he's done great things for both the reptile hobby and by helping collect venom
 

BQC123

Arachnobaron
Old Timer
Joined
May 8, 2010
Messages
413
I would have loved to meet Mr. Haast. Watching videos of him working, even into his 80's was awesome. Man was he fast. He contributed so much.

Rest in peace.
 

OphidianDelight

Arachnoknight
Joined
May 19, 2011
Messages
190
He was a legend. Living long enough to become a centenarian is an achievement by itself and in his career is nothing short of amazing! I have much respect for him and his work. Requiem in terra pax.
 
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