Robert Lee Owens died helping to save J. Lennox Franklin, 7, from drowning, Enid, Oklahoma, January 21, 1963. Lennox, 7, and Robert Lee, 9, schoolboy, were walking on an ice-covered lake when the former broke through into water over his head 35 feet from the bank. He was submerged briefly and then grasped the ice at the edge of the hole but could not climb out. Robert Lee, a very poor swimmer, moved to near Lennox and took hold of his hands. As he attempted to pull Lennox from the water, Robert Lee slid into the hole, enlarging it to four feet in diameter, and was submerged briefly. He then grasped Lennox by the trousers and attempted to raise him onto the ice. Both boys sank beneath the surface and Robert Lee again pushed Lennox upward. Lennox surfaced alone, regained his hold on the ice, and called for help. A young man was attracted and started across the ice but broke through 15 feet from the bank. Breaking a path ahead of him, he waded 20 feet farther to the hole and lifted Lennox onto his shoulder. Lennox told him that Robert Lee was in the water. The man located Robert Lee beneath the surface, removed him from the water, and waded to the bank with both boys. Robert Lee could not be revived.
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