George Truett Mayes rescued Leonard L. Ellis from burning, Crosbyton, Texas, September 6, 1963. When gasoline he was using in a repair shop was ignited accidentally, Ellis, 19, pump repairman, ran toward the door with the burning bucket but dropped it when his clothing caught fire. Surrounded by flames as the burning gasoline spread over the floor, he shouted for help. Mayes, 44, pump and fuel dealer, ran shop and saw Ellis standing in a daze in flames as much as four feet high as they spread toward a tank of butane gas on a truck in the shop. Also nearby were drums of acid and a pile of inflammable plastic hose. Protecting his face with his arm, Mayes ran 12 feet and reached Ellis amid the flames. He put his arm around Ellis and dragged him clear of the flames. Mayes and Ellis beat out part of the flames on the latter’s clothing and then put out the rest at a water faucet inside the shop. Flames had spread across the floor and were burning under the butane tank at one side of the truck as Mayes and Ellis ran along the other side and emerged from the building. Firemen extinguished the flames, which completely destroyed one end of the shop. Mayes sustained burns to his head and arms. Ellis suffered more extensive burns and was hospitalized. Both recovered.
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