Lewis A. Broxson
Firefighter
Sunray Volunteer Fire Department
End of Watch: July 29, 1956
Firefighter Lewis Albert Broxson dedicated himself to serving his community through the volunteer fire service, answering calls for help whenever danger threatened the citizens of Sunray and the surrounding Texas Panhandle. His courage and commitment to others led him to make the ultimate sacrifice during one of the most devastating firefighter tragedies in American history.
Born in 1914, Broxson was part of a generation that understood the value of service, responsibility, and community. As a member of the Sunray Volunteer Fire Department, he willingly devoted his time and energy to protecting others, exemplifying the spirit of volunteerism that defined rural firefighting throughout Texas during the mid-twentieth century.
At 42 years old, Firefighter Broxson was among the nineteen firefighters who lost their lives in the blast. The McKee Refinery disaster remains one of the deadliest firefighter-on-duty loss incidents in United States history and stands as one of the most significant tragedies ever experienced by the Texas fire service.
Broxson's sacrifice reflected the very best traditions of the volunteer fire service. Like so many firefighters of his era, he received no expectation of recognition for answering the call, only the satisfaction of serving and protecting his community. His final act was one of courage and dedication in the face of extraordinary danger.
Today, Firefighter Lewis Albert Broxson is remembered among the nineteen heroes of the McKee Refinery disaster. His name is permanently memorialized at the Texas State Firefighters Memorial, the Moore County memorial honoring the fallen, and Station 19 at the refinery site, where the legacy of the firefighters lost on July 29, 1956, continues to inspire future generations.
END OF WATCH: JULY 29 ,1956
In the early morning hours of July 29, 1956, Broxson responded with fellow firefighters to a major fire at the Shamrock Oil and Gas Corporation's McKee Refinery near Sunray, Texas. Firefighters from Sunray, Dumas, and neighboring communities worked together to combat a dangerous blaze involving a massive storage tank containing highly volatile petroleum products. As the incident escalated, crews concentrated on cooling surrounding tanks and preventing the fire from spreading throughout the refinery complex.
Broxson was among the firefighters working to contain the tank fire as conditions became increasingly unstable. Despite the growing danger, he remained at his post alongside his fellow firefighters, committed to safeguarding lives and property. Shortly before 7:00 a.m., the burning storage tank catastrophically ruptured, creating a massive explosion and fireball that engulfed firefighters operating nearby.
