Sign up for TPR Today, Texas Public Radio's newsletter that brings our top stories to your inbox each morning.
The man who was killed at the Boeing Center at Tech Port on Friday after a jet engine fell on top of him has been identified as David Monroe, the founder of the San Antonio Museum of Science and Technology.
San Antonio police, firefighters, and first responders were called to the loading dock of the Boeing Center on Friday afternoon.
Police said a man in his 70s was working with a crew to transport the jet engine at the facility's loading dock when the engine rolled and caused the worker to fall off the dock — with the 5,000-pound engine falling on top of him.
The San Antonio Fire Department said he was pronounced dead on the scene when they arrived. Officials called it a "workplace accident."
Port San Antonio released a statement on Saturday identifying Monroe as the man who died. He was 72.
"David was a force for good who transformed countless lives he touched," said the statement. "To the Port team, he was a friend and partner who inspired us and, through his beloved SAMSAT and museum team, worked hand in hand in a shared vision to make the world a better place."
Port San Antonio would not comment on the incident that killed the SAMSAT founder beyond the statement.
"To tens of thousands of people—youngsters and adults alike—he was a tireless leader deeply committed to providing opportunities to lifelong learning. He sparked people’s imagination, encouraged their curiosity, and presented innovative and exciting ways to acquire new knowledge and prepare for big futures ahead," the statement said. "His profile loomed large in our community and across the world for his many accomplishments in the advancement of transformative technologies."
Monroe had a long career in engineering beginning at the age of 16 while attending high school.
He became the Vice President of R&D at Datapoint Corporation at the age of 27, where he was involved in the development of many innovations that would lead to the personal computer. By 1983, he helped start up multiple companies in electronics, communications, and security.
Monroe founded SAMSAT after spending decades collecting artifacts related to engineering.
He was recognized with the San Antonio Technology Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015.
This is a developing story that will be updated.
