Sasquatch expert Grover Krantz dies at age 70 Retired WSU anthropology professor often was criticized for his belief in the existence of Bigfoot

Associated Press

PORT ANGELES, Wash. _ One of Bigfoot's most passionate believers has died.

Bigfoot expert Grover Krantz -- who advocated killing a sasquatch to prove the creature exists -- died of pancreatic cancer at his home Thursday. He was 70.

Krantz, a professor of anthropology at Washington State University for 30 years until his retirement in 1998, didn't shy from controversy as a sasquatch expert. Some say his stance on the creature -- a sort of Northwest version of the Abominable Snowman, or yeti, of the Himalayas -- hurt his career.

Krantz wrote several books on sasquatch and appeared as an expert on the "In Search of ..." television series in the 1970s and on the 1999 "Sasquatch Odyssey" documentary.

"Within the established academic community, Grover was the first one to stick his neck out," Loren Coleman, a University of Southern Maine cryptozoologist -- a person who studies creatures not yet officially identified -- told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Krantz had impressive credentials, so it was hard to dismiss his ideas, Coleman said.

"He's a world authority on human evolution," Donald Tyler, chairman of anthropology at the University of Idaho and a former student, told the P-I.

"I don't think Bigfoot exists. But Grover didn't deserve the kind of treatment he got for pursuing this question. ... He was severely criticized for it."

Krantz believed in Bigfoot -- or sasquatch, as the Salish Indians called this woodland "wild man."

Early in his teaching career at WSU, he was asked to examine some large footprints found near Colville, Wash.

Krantz, an expert on the bone structure of primates, made casts of the footprints and studied them, expecting them to be a hoax. But he found evidence of compensa- Grover was the first one to stick his neck out," Loren Coleman, a University of Southern Maine cryptozoologist -- a person who studies creatures not yet officially identified -- told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Krantz had impressive credentials, so it was hard to dismiss his ideas, Coleman said.

"He's a world authority on human evolution," Donald Tyler, chairman of anthropology at the University of Idaho and a former student, told the P-I.

"I don't think Bigfoot exists. But Grover didn't deserve the kind of treatment he got for pursuing this question. ... He was severely criticized for it."

Krantz believed in Bigfoot -- or sasquatch, as the Salish Indians called this woodland "wild man."

Early in his teaching career at WSU, he was asked to examine some large footprints found near Colville, Wash.

Krantz, an expert on the bone structure of primates, made casts of the footprints and studied them, expecting them to be a hoax. But he found evidence of compensation for broken bones and then turned up additional evidence in prints from the Blue Mountains near Walla Walla.

"He thought the evidence couldn't have been faked," Tyler said. "I sometimes think he was too smart for his own good."

Born in Salt Lake City, Krantz grew up there and in Rockford, Ill. He served in the Air Force from June 1951 to 1952 in Salt Lake City and Clovis, N.M., before he was discharged from active duty as an airman.

Krantz attended the University of Utah for two years but earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of California at Berkeley. He was a professor of anthropology at WSU from 1968 until he retired and moved to the Olympic Peninsula.

He met his wife of 19 years, Diane Horton, through their mutual interest in Bigfoot. She was his fourth wife.

Krantz enjoyed research and collecting animal skeletons and skulls. He also kept Irish wolfhounds.

In addition to his wife, Krantz is survived by a stepson, Dural Horton, and a brother, Victor Krantz of Wheaton, Md.

Grover Krantz wanted his body to be donated to the Smithsonian Institution for research and asked that no memorial service be held. Donations can be made to Hospice of Clallam County in Port Angeles.

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

Answers

So what do you think, David, are they real? Personally I think they are real and have been here for 1,000's of years. Here's some more:

Link 1

Link 2

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002