Harry R. Truman
Harry R. Truman | |
|---|---|
Truman at his lodge, shortly before his death in 1980 | |
| Born | Harry R. Truman October 30, 1896 Ivydale, West Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | May 18, 1980 (aged 83) |
| Cause of death | Heat shock due to pyroclastic flow |
| Occupations | Bootlegger, prospector, caretaker of the Mount St. Helens Lodge |
| Spouse(s) | Helen Irene Hughes (divorced) Marjorie Bennett (divorced) Edna O. Henrickson (deceased) |
| Children | 1 |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Army Air Service |
| Service years | 1917–1919 |
| Unit | 100th Aero Squadron |
| Conflicts | World War I |
Harry R. Truman (October 30, 1896 – May 18, 1980) was an American businessman, bootlegger, and prospector. He lived near Mount St. Helens, a dormant volcano in the Cascade Range in the state of Washington, and was the owner and caretaker of Mount St. Helens Lodge at Spirit Lake near the base of the mountain. After Mount St. Helens awoke from dormancy in March 1980, Truman became a folk hero in the weeks leading to the volcano's May eruption, after refusing to evacuate his home despite repeated orders from authorities. On May 18, 1980, Truman was killed in the cataclysmic eruption of Mount St. Helens by a pyroclastic flow that overtook his lodge and buried the site under 46 m (150 ft) of volcanic debris.
After Truman's death, his family and friends reflected on his love for the mountain. Actor Art Carney portrayed Truman in the docudrama film St. Helens (1981). Truman was commemorated in a book by his niece, and also in various pieces of music, including songs by Headgear, Billy Jonas, Penny Lew, and Shawn Wright and the Brothers Band.