Camille Mikalik, 66, of Morgantown, W.Va., died Monday, July 15, 2019, at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown.
Mikalik was awarded the Carnegie Medal in 2001 for rescuing 9-year-old twins from a burning home, after a massive natural gas explosion reduced their home to rubble. Mikalik was driving nearby when he witnessed the explosion and responded to the scene.
He and other men, including Carnegie heroes Allen D. Fortney and Thomas Konchesky, mounted the pile of rubble and pulled pieces of debris from it to locate the children. Mikalik held up a section of interior wall to allow others to pull the children from the basement. Everyone fled the property, which was covered by 30-foot flames within one minute.
Mikalik was born Dec. 28, 1952, in Morgantown. A 1970 graduate of Mapletown High School, Mikalik worked for Mylan Pharmaceuticals for 20 years. Mikalik enjoyed softball, poker, pool, golf, and spending time with his friends. Mikalik is survived by one brother and numerous nieces and nephews.