A stranger walking into the Longview Fairgrounds Exhibit Building on Friday night wouldn't notice anything unusual about the reunion going on. Everywhere, everyone was smiling, laughing, patting backs and shaking hands. Some strolled around while others sat at their class table with old friends; the sound of good times so loud that many people were talking directly into an ear.
But beneath the joyous surface rested a pain shared by all, not exactly visible but not ignored.
Click the image above for an audio slideshow in the survivors own words.
Click the image above to see a video on London history.
"I think everybody here has their own story to tell," said Rogers Lehew, a former football coach and manager who traveled from Calgary, Canada, to meet up with old pals to mark the 70th anniversary of the New London explosion.
Lehew was 8 that sunny spring day when the London School came crashing down around him. He was OK, as was one of his sisters who went to school with him. But the gas explosion, which claimed about 300 lives, would bury his other sister, Mary Ellen, beneath mounds of rubble. Lehew said he did not see her alive again.
Later, he would go back to the school with his father to dig up Mary Ellen and take her to the funeral home.
After all the bodies were buried, Lehew and the remaining staff and students did the only thing they could: They kept living.
Lehew would graduate in 1945, and would then go on to the University of Tulsa. For about the next 20 years, he would coach or manage football teams in the United States and in Canada, he said.
At one period in Lehew's life, he was frequently asked to give speeches to groups of students.
"I never failed to tell them where I came from and how much I owed my classmates for getting me through school," Lehew recalled.
Sitting in a room with about 300 of his former schoolmates and their families Friday evening, Lehew could be seen talking about the many years passed with several friends.
"I came back mainly out of respect for my mom and dad, and my sister who was killed," said Lehew, who first attended a reunion 20 years ago. Since then, he's been to another three or four.
"I thought it was a good idea to honor them," he said with tears in his eyes.
For Lehew and others, the reunions brought pain but also positives.
"I thought it was a good way to get a lot of people together who went through a disaster, a catastrophe together," he said. "Before that, people didn't talk about it. But it affected their lives. Everything was A.D. or B.C. the explosion."
Although old faces brought tough memories flooding back, seeing everybody was still what Lehew looked forward to most, he said.
In about 10 days, he'll fly back to Canada with his wife, Joann; he'll keep in touch with some of his friends, as he has always done, and wait until the next reunion to see everyone else.
From time to time, Lehew will consider again the events of 1937 and how the community rallied around him and the other survivors, making sure they at least would grow up safe.
"They were looking after us," Lehew said. "We all suffered, and we all helped each other."
Thank you first for the articles about the anniversy of New London. When I lived in Longview in 65 I met a gentlman who was the manager of an apartment I lived in. He was a student at New London. He told me the day of the explosion was his birthday and he did not want to go to school. So he hid under the porch all day. He then told me when the school blew up he saw his mother running out of the house very upset. His name is Roy Tilly. I still think about Roy when I hear about New London.Thanks
This year’s reunion was extremely great, and very well
organized! I would like to thank “EVERYONE” who had a part in the
organizing, presenting the programs, and to all the exes and
others that came to share in the memories of our loved ones
who gave their lives that we in the future could live in a
safer enviroment by having ‘gas’ that smells.
I’m sorry for the saddness for the surviors.I know everything God has a purpose for.That because of it may have saved many other lives.I have three beautiful children and can’t even imagine that happening.I have shared this story with them and their hearts go out to the surviors.I’ve told them you never know what may happen enjoy everyday with anyone that you love like it’s your last.My prayers are with all of the ones on that horrible day!
I had the wonderful pleasure of attending the four different activities for the 70th Anniversary of the London School Explosion last Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I am amazed at the warmth and sincere appreciation of the survivors. It was an honor to be with them and to just listen to their stories and rememberences of that fateful day that changed so many lives. Thanks to everyone that attended and especially to everyone who organized and planned the four activities. See all of you in 2009.
What interesting recollections of that very horrific explosion that happened years ago. I am very glad that all have found closure. I am very glad Bill Thompson has accepted the fact that it wasn’t his fault at all, but can relate to how it could have had that effect on him. Blessings to all and I know that thru it all, In God we still trust.
I was 2 years old at the time of the explosion living in New Summerfield,Texas. Your stories cover a very tragic time in the lives of many people, not only in London, but in the many surrounding communities that were, and are, their neighbors. The stories are a good history lesson and reflect a great way of life in the East Texas community. People caring for their neighbors in 1937 and today. That’s just the way they are.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Janet Lurker
March 18, 2007 9:04 AM | Link to this
Thank you first for the articles about the anniversy of New London. When I lived in Longview in 65 I met a gentlman who was the manager of an apartment I lived in. He was a student at New London. He told me the day of the explosion was his birthday and he did not want to go to school. So he hid under the porch all day. He then told me when the school blew up he saw his mother running out of the house very upset. His name is Roy Tilly. I still think about Roy when I hear about New London.Thanks
By Betty Stone Lyon (1960)
March 19, 2007 8:33 AM | Link to this
This year’s reunion was extremely great, and very well organized! I would like to thank “EVERYONE” who had a part in the organizing, presenting the programs, and to all the exes and others that came to share in the memories of our loved ones who gave their lives that we in the future could live in a safer enviroment by having ‘gas’ that smells.
By Cindy Hutchison
March 19, 2007 5:47 PM | Link to this
I’m sorry for the saddness for the surviors.I know everything God has a purpose for.That because of it may have saved many other lives.I have three beautiful children and can’t even imagine that happening.I have shared this story with them and their hearts go out to the surviors.I’ve told them you never know what may happen enjoy everyday with anyone that you love like it’s your last.My prayers are with all of the ones on that horrible day!
By Jim Ross
March 19, 2007 10:19 PM | Link to this
I had the wonderful pleasure of attending the four different activities for the 70th Anniversary of the London School Explosion last Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I am amazed at the warmth and sincere appreciation of the survivors. It was an honor to be with them and to just listen to their stories and rememberences of that fateful day that changed so many lives. Thanks to everyone that attended and especially to everyone who organized and planned the four activities. See all of you in 2009.
By Kaye
March 21, 2007 9:17 AM | Link to this
I had a science teacher/coach in middle school named James Motley. He was a survivor of the New London explosion. Wondered if he was still alive.
By Feby
March 21, 2007 12:26 PM | Link to this
What interesting recollections of that very horrific explosion that happened years ago. I am very glad that all have found closure. I am very glad Bill Thompson has accepted the fact that it wasn’t his fault at all, but can relate to how it could have had that effect on him. Blessings to all and I know that thru it all, In God we still trust.
By Ken Dickson
March 25, 2007 9:34 PM | Link to this
I was 2 years old at the time of the explosion living in New Summerfield,Texas. Your stories cover a very tragic time in the lives of many people, not only in London, but in the many surrounding communities that were, and are, their neighbors. The stories are a good history lesson and reflect a great way of life in the East Texas community. People caring for their neighbors in 1937 and today. That’s just the way they are.