Daniel L. Williams rescued John M. Thatcher from burning, Bellaire, Ohio, November 28, 1996. At night, Thatcher, 45, was overcome by smoke in a bedroom of his one-story house after fire broke out in the living room and spread. A neighbor, Williams, 44, coal miner, saw the fire and responded to the scene. Learning that Thatcher was still inside the burning house, Williams approached a back door, kicked it in, and, holding his breath, entered, crawling. Having to retreat for air, Williams saw Thatcher on the floor. Re-entering the house, Williams crawled to Thatcher. He grasped him by the wrists, then stood and dragged Thatcher out of the house, which was shortly engulfed by flames. Thatcher required lengthy hospitalization for treatment of smoke inhalation and burns.
71329 – 8145
71329-8145Obituary
Daniel Lee Williams, Sr., 48, Bellaire, Ohio, died on Dec. 26, 2000, at Bellaire Community Hospital. He was born on July 11, 1952, in Bellaire, a son of Margaret Kanzigg Williams and Benjamin J. Williams, Jr.
He was an employee of Consolidation Coal Company’s Shoemaker Mine, a member of Bend Fork Christian Church at Belmont, a Carnegie Hero Fund medal recipient, and a member of the United Mine workers of America.
(Edited from an obituary provided by a family member.)