Gerald Hurst
| Gerald Hurst | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 16, 1937 Davis, Oklahoma |
| Died | March 11, 2015 (aged 77) Austin, Texas |
| Other names | Jerry |
| Fields | Chemistry |
| Alma mater | University of Cambridge |
| Known for | Arson investigations |
Gerald "Jerry" Hurst (1937 – March 11, 2015) was an American chemist and fire investigator. Before becoming noted for arson investigations, Hurst designed explosives for warfare, invented a binary explosive device known as Kinepak and developed an improved chemical compound to create Liquid Paper. He also devised an explosive called Astrolite as well as the Mylar balloon.
Hurst provided consultation or expert testimony in several high-profile arson cases, including that of executed Texas death row inmate Cameron Todd Willingham. His work also led to the parole of convicted arsonist Sonia Cacy and the release of Ernest Ray Willis, who had spent 17 years on death row in Texas.
Hurst was born in Davis, Oklahoma. He grew up between Oklahoma and California since his parents, a sharecropper and a waitress, were divorced. He earned a doctorate from the University of Cambridge. He worked to develop explosives for use in warfare and he made rocket propellant for Harshaw Chemical. After leaving Harshaw Chemical, he invented Kinepak, a special explosive that does not detonate until its components mix together. His business was bought out and merged with the Atlas Powder Company.
Hurst served as chief scientist with Atlas. He worked about ten hours per week in the Atlas laboratory in Austin, Texas, and he spent much of the rest of his time as a consultant on civil court cases. Those cases often involved legal disputes over the causes of fires.
Hurst made other scientific discoveries, including the mylar balloon and an improved version of Liquid Paper. He said that he earned a great deal of money from inventing the Mylar balloon but that much of it had gone to patent lawyers. When he came up with the idea to use Mylar sheets to make balloons of different shapes, he protected that innovation as a trade secret rather than pursuing another patent. He also developed an exploding T-shirt and a very powerful explosive known as Astrolite.
After developing liver failure and becoming very ill, Hurst received a liver transplant in 1994. His liver condition was thought to have been precipitated by his research work with toxic chemicals.
...
Wikipedia