Reports on the internet surfaced late yesterday that legendary reptile keeper and inspiration to reptile hobbyists world wide, Bill Haast, founder of the Miami Serpentarium, has passed away. We are still trying to confirm this information as it has yet to appear in the main stream press and will keep you updated as more information becomes available.

If any man deserved the sobriquet "legendary" in this community, Bill Haast led the way. I only met Bill in the later years of his life but knew of and read of his exploits in the field and in the lab for many years prior and many of his proteges at times took me under their wing, feeding me stories of their time growing up at or around the Serpentarium in the 60s and 70s.

I am far from right the person to be writing Bill's obituary so I have asked several of his friends and disciples to step up in my place and their remembrances will be posted later today and tomorrow. I am sure many of our readers have interacted with Bill over the years and I invite them to share their memories here.

* gallery photo by user Upscale