Harvey Updyke — the Alabama fan who gained national fame for poisoning the famous oak trees at Auburn in 2010 — has died … his son said Thursday.
He was 71 years old.
Bear Updyke added to AL.com his father passed away of natural causes.
Harvey became a part of college football history back in the 2010 season … when he called into The Paul Finebaum Show and admitted to putting poison on Auburn’s beloved Toomer’s Corner trees.
“Let me tell you what I did,” Updyke said. “The weekend after the Iron Bowl, I went to Auburn, Alabama, because I live 30 miles away, and I poisoned the two Toomer’s trees.”
“I put Spike 80DF in ’em … they’re not dead yet, but they definitely will die.”
Harvey was eventually tracked down and charged for the act … and later, in 2013, he pled guilty to felony criminal damage.
Harvey spent time in jail over the crime … and was ordered to pay nearly $1 million in restitution.
The tree poisoning wove him into the fabric of the Tigers vs. Tide history … he was prominently featured in ESPN’s famous 30 for 30 about the schools’ rivalry.
Auburn, meanwhile, was forced to replace the trees despite efforts to save them.
