Mythic West

Father of “Roswell Incident” Dies

By Contributing Writer, 12-20-05

By Scribblista

On July 8, 1947, an Army lieutenant named Walter Haut sent out a news release informing America that a “flying disc� had landed in some podunk New Mexican town named Roswell and was now in Air Force possession. Within a few short hours, Haut put Roswell on the map and laid the groundwork for its enduring legacy as ground zero for little green men and the people who believe in them. Haut died last week at age 83.

It was during his stint as a spokesman for the Roswell Army Air Field that Haut established Roswell as the epicenter for aliens, flying saucers and conspiracy theories. He issued the release on direct instructions from his base commander and the Roswell Daily Record newspaper ran its famous July 9, 1947 headline: RAAF Captures Flying Saucer on Ranch in Roswell Region.

The same day, the Army retracted the statement, saying that the wreckage was merely a weather balloon. The Roswell Incident, however, converted Haut -- and many others -- into true believers. Haut told reporters that “there must have been something in the skies that night. There’s just too much evidence.� In 1991, he founded the International UFO Museum in Roswell, which ultimately bolstered the town's economy. Flying saucers turned out to be a kitschy draw for tourists, and UFOs can be seen all over town, from McDonalds to local businesses to street lamps. The town even hosts an annual UFO Festival.

The town wisely capitalized on Roswell’s "who-woulda-thunk-it" status as a pop culture phenom. Conspiracy theorists remain convinced that the Truth Is Out There In Roswell. (Google "Walter Haut" and you get well over 2 million hits). The Roswell Incident is writ large into tons of sci-fi blockbuster plotlines. Will Smith tromps around in the desert in Independence Day. Agents Mulder and Scully consider it a cornerstone on The X-Files. The WB even launched a successful teen series named Roswell a few years back. (Real teens living in Roswell, I suspect, aren't quite as fashionable as this bunch).

Thanks to Haut's brief but shocking press release, Roswell remains the world’s favorite alien outpost. And most of us who live in New Mexico are proud to welcome the little green men to our backyard.

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