William D. Bradshaw saved an indeterminate number of persons from a possible explosion, Morganton, North Carolina, March 21, 1989. Bradshaw, 36, security officer, was alerted to escaping propane gas from an opened valve of a tank outside one of the residential cottages of the state institution where he was employed. When he arrived at the scene, he found that the highly flammable gas had formed a large, white cloud that was beginning to the enter the basement of the cottage, where the slightest source of ignition would have precipitated an explosion. Bradshaw immediately entered the cloud and turned off the valve, then left for pliers and re-entered the cloud to tighten it. He then helped to evacuate the cottage, some of the residents of which were not ambulatory. The cloud soon dissipated, ceasing threat.
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Obituary
Mr. William “Bill” Dwight Bradshaw, 72, of Valdese passed away Friday, October 18, 2024 at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte following a period of declining health.
Bill was born May 25, 1952 in Burke County to the late Dwight Elmer Bradshaw and Gracie Rector Street. He worked at J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center and Broughton Hospital. He was also a police officer. He was a recipient of the Governor’s Award, for his dedicated service to the state of North Carolina; and a Carnegie Hero Award. Bill was a member of River of Life Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandson, James Bradshaw.
Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Edith Bradshaw of the home; children, William Bradshaw, Jr. of Boone, Kim Phillips and husband David Buffkin of Davidson; and Kelly Paige of Hildebran; grandchildren, Zachary Bradshaw, Jesse Bradshaw and wife Samantha, and Brittany Jenkins and husband Logan; great grandchildren, Bowen Bradshaw, Laura Bradshaw, Hunter Sturgill, and Olivia Sturgill; step father, Floyd Street of Spruce Pine; siblings, Robert Kelly of Denham Springs, LA, Vickie Deal and husband Gerald of Valdese, and Debra Richards and husband Charles of Gastonia; and several nephews.