groups. Exploding whale incident On November 12, 1970, the department was tasked with disposing of a dead sperm whale that washed ashore on the beach near Florence. The department exploded the dead whale using half a ton of dynamite to blast it off the beach. Pieces of dead whale went everywhere including the beach, bystanders, a parking lot and a park, severely damaging at least one car. Willamette Week reports "The decision to publicly dynamite an enormous mammal has become one of Oregon's all-time most bizarre moments." This became known as the "exploding whale incident". Directors John Fulton — July 1, 1969 – December 31, 1970 George Baldwin — January 1, 1971 – June 30, 1971 Sam Haley — July 1, 1971 – July 8, 1973 George Baldwin — July 9, 1973 – April 30, 1976 Bob Burco — May 1, 1976 – January 8, 1979 Fred Klaboe — January 9, 1979 – December 31, 1981 Fred Miller — January 1, 1982 – February 16, 1987 Bob Bothman — February 17, 1987 – June 30, 1991 Don Forbes — July 1, 1991 – 1995 Grace Crunican — 1996 – 2001 Bruce Warner — 2001 – 2005 Matthew Garrett — December 19, 2005 – June 30, 2019 Kris Strickler — September 2019 – Present Slogans 1913 - "Get Oregon Out of the Mud" 1957 - "Building Oregon Thru Better Highways" 1958 - "Oregon Freeways...Symbol of 2nd Century Progress" 1961 - "Freeways are Easier" 1967 - "Fifty Years of Building Better Highways in Oregon" (not technically correct; the department was formed in 1913) 1978 - "Keep Oregon Green and in the Black" 1986 - "ODOT on the Move" 2006 - "The way to go!" See also Glenn Jackson, an influential twenty-year member of the commission Oregon Department of Aviation State highways in Oregon References External links Exploding whale video on YouTube, linked from Willamette Week news article Oregon Department of Transportation Museum online Oregon Transportation Commission 1913 establishments in Oregon Motor vehicle registration agencies Transportation, Oregon Department of State departments of transportation of the United States Transportation in Oregon