RIP, William Mitchell, passes away, age 92 (Who, you ask??)

Dan Murphy

We are family.
Joined
Apr 20, 2000
Messages
84,046
The inventor of Pop Rocks, Cool Whip, Jell-O, Tang. I never ate those Pop Rocks, but I know Vince and Natalie sure enjoyed them, fun candy!! I sure did enjoy some of his other inventions though.

Who here enjoyed those Pop Rocks back in the 70's/80's?


I33158-2004Aug01


William Mitchell; Inventor of Pop Rocks

Associated Press
Monday, August 2, 2004; Page B04


William A. Mitchell, 92, the food scientist who invented Pop Rocks candy and discovered a substitute for tapioca, died July 26 at a care home in Stockton, Calif. He had congestive heart failure.

Mr. Mitchell, who worked as a chemist for General Foods Corp. in White Plains, N.Y., for 35 years until his retirement in 1976, held more than 70 patents, including inventions related to Cool Whip, quick-set Jell-O Gelatin and the drink mix Tang.

While working briefly for Eastman Kodak Company, he helped design a chemical process to develop the color green. He developed the tapioca substitute during World War II when tapioca supplies were running low.

Perhaps Mr. Mitchell's most famous invention was Pop Rocks -- the exploding candy that became a cultural phenomenon after it hit the market in 1975. He made the discovery accidentally, while trying to design an instant soft drink, when he put some sugar flavoring mixed with carbon dioxide in his mouth.

For years, Mr. Mitchell, who patented Pop Rocks in 1956, fought to dispel the myth that the carbonated candy was deadly if eaten while drinking carbonated drinks.

After his wife died in 1999, he moved to Stockton, where he developed food products for a daughter's Stockton research company.

Survivors include seven children.


© 2004 The Washington Post Company

http://www.poprockscandy.com/history.html

7021377.jpg
 
Not me, but our kids still love those Pop Rocks!!

RIP, Mr. Mitchell . . .
 
I LOVED those pop rocks until I heard someone died from them (mixing coke and those together or something - I was thinking it was a famous person).
 
I still eat Pop Rocks!!:o

A local ice cream place makes a Cotton Candy Pop Rocks flavor that is sinfully delicious!!:tongue:
 

I loved PopRocks and Spacedust. I remember the rumors that went around about mixing coke and poprocks, I'm still here. My kids eat Poprocks now.
 
When I was a senior in HS in 1979 (GASP!:o ) the rumor floating around that Mikey from Life cereal commercial died from drinking pop and eating Pop Rocks.

It wasn't true.
 
I was never a big fan of pop rocks, but have always loved cool whip and jell-o. I am getting a urge for some right now! :p

May he RIP.
 
My mom will be heartbroken. :sad1: She's adored Cool Whip since it first became available and slathers it on ALL deserts with a shovel. Please don't open her cupboards.....empty Cool Whip bowls will go flying! :eek:


P.S.
Guess who's getting "soaps" later today? ;)
 
Can you imagine his surprise when his sugar/carbon dioxide combination went off in his mouth?!!:eek:
 
Rest in peace Mr. Mitchell. You added to my childhood as I enjoyed pop rocks as a kid.
 
How sad! :(


I just read that Mr. Mitchell will be cremated in a private family service. . .

. . . and then they will add water to his ashes and reconstitute his corpse for the public service.



:eek:

:hyper:
 















Receive up to $1,000 in Onboard Credit and a Gift Basket!
That’s right — when you book your Disney Cruise with Dreams Unlimited Travel, you’ll receive incredible shipboard credits to spend during your vacation!
CLICK HERE







New Posts







DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest DIS Tiktok DIS Twitter

Back
Top