Gary Gilmore
Gary Gilmore (1940-1977) was the first person legally put to death for murder in the United States since 1967. His execution ended an unofficial moratorium on executions in the U.S. which began in 1967 and was backed by a 1972 Supreme Court ban on capital punishment (the ban was lifted in 1976. Gilmore had killed a motel manager in Provo, Utah and was also charged with murdering a gas station employee in Orem, Utah, the previous day, but that case never went to trial.
He was shot by a firing squad after angrily telling his lawyers to drop the appeals they had filed in defiance of his wishes. Gilmore had spent 18 of his last 21 years in jail and prison; he hurried the justice process along. Through the waiting process, Gilmore attempted suicide twice while he waited in prison. The execution was stayed three times. Gilmore's last words were "let's do it."
Gilmore requested that, following his execution, his eyes be used for transplant purposes. Within hours of the execution, two people received his corneas, inspiring the Adverts to write and release "Gary Gilmore's Eyes" later that year.
Gary Gilmore's story is documented in Norman Mailer's non-fictional novel The Executioner's Song (1979).
Referenced By
17 January | 17th January | Death by firing squad | Execution by firing squad | Firing squad | Gary | January 17 | January 17th | List of individuals executed in Utah | List of people by name: Gi | List of people who were executed | The Adverts
|
