Harold Denton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Harold Denton
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Harold Denton testifying before the Senate Committee, March 2009
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| Born |
Harold Ray Denton
24 February 1936 |
| Died | 13 February 2017 (aged 80) Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.
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| Alma mater | North Carolina State University College of Engineering |
| Occupation | nuclear engineer |
| Years active | 1958–2017 |
| Known for | Former Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| Spouse(s) | Lucinda Vaden Oliver |
| Children | 3 |
Harold Ray Denton (born February 24, 1936 – died February 13, 2017) was an important nuclear engineer. He worked for the United States government. He was the Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. This office is part of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC). Denton is most famous for his role during the Three Mile Island accident. He was President Jimmy Carter's personal advisor for this event.
After finishing college in 1958, Denton earned a degree in nuclear engineering. He first worked as an engineer at DuPont. Later, he joined the USNRC. After ten years, he became the Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. He held this important job until he retired in 1998.
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Harold Denton and the Three Mile Island Accident
In 1979, a serious accident happened at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant. This plant is located near Harrisburg. President Carter sent Harold Denton there as his special representative. Denton's arrival helped calm everyone down. Public officials were worried, and the news reporters were frustrated.
Steve Liddick, a radio reporter, explained why Denton was trusted. He said, "Harold Denton looked like a regular, down-to-earth kind of guy. And people wanted someone to believe." Denton became a trusted source of information during the crisis.
The Hydrogen Bubble Concern
One of Denton's key tasks was to share important news. He had to tell Pennsylvania Governor Dick Thornburgh and the President about a discovery. Scientists found a bubble of hydrogen gas. This bubble was above the cooling water inside the reactor.
There was a big debate about this bubble. People worried if the hydrogen would mix with oxygen. If it did, it could cause an explosion. This fear led to talk about a possible meltdown. A meltdown is when a nuclear reactor's core gets too hot and melts.
When President Carter arrived on April 1, the debate about the bubble was still ongoing. Denton told the President about the risk. He explained the different ideas about whether the bubble would explode. Denton recalled, "we still didn't have a single view on that."
Awards and Recognition
Harold Denton received many awards for his work at Three Mile Island. One of these was the James N. Landis Medal. Governor Dick Thornburgh spoke highly of Denton. He said Denton "proved to be a genuine hero." Thornburgh added that Denton was a much-needed source of information. This information was vital for those responsible for public safety.
Harold Denton's Personal Life
Harold Denton married Lucinda Vaden Oliver on July 11, 1959. They had three children together.
In December 2011, Denton traveled to Tokyo, Japan. He took part in a meeting about engineering. He also visited several reactor sites. These sites were damaged by an earthquake and tsunami in March 2011. He saw the work being done to repair them and make them safer.
Harold Denton passed away at his home in Knoxville, Tennessee. He was 80 years old. He died from health issues, including Alzheimer's disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
