NKY.com
October 27, 2011
Written by Brenna R. Kelly
Proper burial sought for rescuer in Beverly Hills fire
Willie Snow's family can't pay for funeral
More than 34 years ago, Willie Snow rescued complete strangers from the burning Beverly Hills Supper Club, now thanks to his longtime friend and co-worker strangers are helping to find a final resting place for Snow.
Snow, of Bond Hill in Cincinnati, died in August. He was 80.
Since then no one has claimed his body, said his friend, Dave Brock, of Independence.
Snow's family does not have the money to pay for a funeral or burial, said Brock, who worked with Snow in the kitchen of the Supper Club.
On May 28, 1977, Snow pulled people both dead and alive from the sprawling Southgate club as the fire raged inside.
Many of those bodies he handed off to Brock, then an 18-year-old busboy.
"Willie realized that bodies were stacking up at the doorway and he just kept going in and out for 45 minutes to an hour just pulling people out two at a time and handing them off to us," Brock said.
That night 165 people died in the fire and more than 200 were injured.
Snow recounted his experiences that night in the 1996 book "Inside the Beverly Hills Supper Club Fire," by Ron Elliott.
Snow, the head dishwasher, was in the kitchen when someone told him the Zebra room was hot. He and one of the owners went to the basement to check for fire but saw nothing. About 30 minutes later, smoke was reported in the Zebra room. They rushed to the basement and saw flames inside the Zebra room wall, Snow recalled.
He went upstairs and alerted the staff to get the patrons out of the building. Then went outside where people were yelling "Cabaret Room, Cabaret Room."
Snow and two other men began pulling bodies from the smoke filled entrance where they had begun to pile up.
"No one came out under their own power after I arrived," he wrote.
Brock and others carried the bodies to a triage area as Snow pulled them out.
"He was a large man and he could carry two or three," Brock said. "It was like going into a war zone and he was just bringing them out and handing them off."
In the book, Snow said he had no idea how many people he pulled from the building. When he couldn't see anymore bodies, Snow put a napkin over his mouth and crawled into the building feeling for more, he wrote.
Finding nothing he crawled back to the exit where a doctor told him he could not go in anymore.
"He's lucky that he didn't die in it because most of the people that died, it was the smoke that killed them," Brock said.
Brock said he learned of Snow's death because someone who used to work with Brock now works for the Hamilton County Coroner's office. He then learned that no one had claimed his remains.
Brocks said he last talked to his friend about six months ago.
"I've always kept up Willie. He's a good man, he's always worked hard," said Brock, who now runs Sin City Antiques and Treasures in Newport.
After the Supper Club, Snow continued to work for the Schilling family as he had done for the 20 years before the fire. He also continued to work with Brock. The two worked on Islands, a boat on the river, and then on the boat when it became Splash in Louisville.
Eleven years after the Supper Club incident, Snow was again part of a rescue.
He was driving home from Louisville when he happened upon a bus crash on Interstate 71 near Carrollton.
"It's amazing," Brock said. "He saw what was happening and ran across...and was pulling bodies out of that bus as well."
The crash turned out to be the worst drunken-driving crash in U.S. history, killing 24 children and three adults.
"He was a lifesaver," Brock said of his friend.
After Brock publicized his friend's plight a Mason funeral home volunteered Wednesday to handle services and burial for Snow.
Mike Ryan with Shorten and Ryan Funeral Home contacted Brock and the Hamilton County Coroner's office.
Ryan could not be reached for comment.
Visitiation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Imwalle Memorial, 4811 Vine St., in St. Bernard. Burial will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday Vine Street Hill Cemetery.
A fund has been set up to reimburse the funeral home. Donations can be made at Citizen's Bank, at 103 Churchill Drive in Newport to Family and Friends of Beverly Hills.
Brock was pleased that he helped secure a proper burial for his friend.
"It's the right thing to do," Brock said. "I've known the man for 39 years of my life, I would hope that he would do the same for me."
October 27, 2011
Written by Brenna R. Kelly
Proper burial sought for rescuer in Beverly Hills fire
Willie Snow's family can't pay for funeral
More than 34 years ago, Willie Snow rescued complete strangers from the burning Beverly Hills Supper Club, now thanks to his longtime friend and co-worker strangers are helping to find a final resting place for Snow.
Snow, of Bond Hill in Cincinnati, died in August. He was 80.
Since then no one has claimed his body, said his friend, Dave Brock, of Independence.
Snow's family does not have the money to pay for a funeral or burial, said Brock, who worked with Snow in the kitchen of the Supper Club.
On May 28, 1977, Snow pulled people both dead and alive from the sprawling Southgate club as the fire raged inside.
Many of those bodies he handed off to Brock, then an 18-year-old busboy.
"Willie realized that bodies were stacking up at the doorway and he just kept going in and out for 45 minutes to an hour just pulling people out two at a time and handing them off to us," Brock said.
That night 165 people died in the fire and more than 200 were injured.
Snow recounted his experiences that night in the 1996 book "Inside the Beverly Hills Supper Club Fire," by Ron Elliott.
Snow, the head dishwasher, was in the kitchen when someone told him the Zebra room was hot. He and one of the owners went to the basement to check for fire but saw nothing. About 30 minutes later, smoke was reported in the Zebra room. They rushed to the basement and saw flames inside the Zebra room wall, Snow recalled.
He went upstairs and alerted the staff to get the patrons out of the building. Then went outside where people were yelling "Cabaret Room, Cabaret Room."
Snow and two other men began pulling bodies from the smoke filled entrance where they had begun to pile up.
"No one came out under their own power after I arrived," he wrote.
Brock and others carried the bodies to a triage area as Snow pulled them out.
"He was a large man and he could carry two or three," Brock said. "It was like going into a war zone and he was just bringing them out and handing them off."
In the book, Snow said he had no idea how many people he pulled from the building. When he couldn't see anymore bodies, Snow put a napkin over his mouth and crawled into the building feeling for more, he wrote.
Finding nothing he crawled back to the exit where a doctor told him he could not go in anymore.
"He's lucky that he didn't die in it because most of the people that died, it was the smoke that killed them," Brock said.
Brock said he learned of Snow's death because someone who used to work with Brock now works for the Hamilton County Coroner's office. He then learned that no one had claimed his remains.
Brocks said he last talked to his friend about six months ago.
"I've always kept up Willie. He's a good man, he's always worked hard," said Brock, who now runs Sin City Antiques and Treasures in Newport.
After the Supper Club, Snow continued to work for the Schilling family as he had done for the 20 years before the fire. He also continued to work with Brock. The two worked on Islands, a boat on the river, and then on the boat when it became Splash in Louisville.
Eleven years after the Supper Club incident, Snow was again part of a rescue.
He was driving home from Louisville when he happened upon a bus crash on Interstate 71 near Carrollton.
"It's amazing," Brock said. "He saw what was happening and ran across...and was pulling bodies out of that bus as well."
The crash turned out to be the worst drunken-driving crash in U.S. history, killing 24 children and three adults.
"He was a lifesaver," Brock said of his friend.
After Brock publicized his friend's plight a Mason funeral home volunteered Wednesday to handle services and burial for Snow.
Mike Ryan with Shorten and Ryan Funeral Home contacted Brock and the Hamilton County Coroner's office.
Ryan could not be reached for comment.
Visitiation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Imwalle Memorial, 4811 Vine St., in St. Bernard. Burial will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday Vine Street Hill Cemetery.
A fund has been set up to reimburse the funeral home. Donations can be made at Citizen's Bank, at 103 Churchill Drive in Newport to Family and Friends of Beverly Hills.
Brock was pleased that he helped secure a proper burial for his friend.
"It's the right thing to do," Brock said. "I've known the man for 39 years of my life, I would hope that he would do the same for me."
NKY.com
October 27, 2011
Written by Brenna R. Kelly
Proper burial sought for rescuer in Beverly Hills fire
Willie Snow's family can't pay for funeral
More than 34 years ago, Willie Snow rescued complete strangers from the burning Beverly Hills Supper Club, now thanks to his longtime friend and co-worker strangers are helping to find a final resting place for Snow.
Snow, of Bond Hill in Cincinnati, died in August. He was 80.
Since then no one has claimed his body, said his friend, Dave Brock, of Independence.
Snow's family does not have the money to pay for a funeral or burial, said Brock, who worked with Snow in the kitchen of the Supper Club.
On May 28, 1977, Snow pulled people both dead and alive from the sprawling Southgate club as the fire raged inside.
Many of those bodies he handed off to Brock, then an 18-year-old busboy.
"Willie realized that bodies were stacking up at the doorway and he just kept going in and out for 45 minutes to an hour just pulling people out two at a time and handing them off to us," Brock said.
That night 165 people died in the fire and more than 200 were injured.
Snow recounted his experiences that night in the 1996 book "Inside the Beverly Hills Supper Club Fire," by Ron Elliott.
Snow, the head dishwasher, was in the kitchen when someone told him the Zebra room was hot. He and one of the owners went to the basement to check for fire but saw nothing. About 30 minutes later, smoke was reported in the Zebra room. They rushed to the basement and saw flames inside the Zebra room wall, Snow recalled.
He went upstairs and alerted the staff to get the patrons out of the building. Then went outside where people were yelling "Cabaret Room, Cabaret Room."
Snow and two other men began pulling bodies from the smoke filled entrance where they had begun to pile up.
"No one came out under their own power after I arrived," he wrote.
Brock and others carried the bodies to a triage area as Snow pulled them out.
"He was a large man and he could carry two or three," Brock said. "It was like going into a war zone and he was just bringing them out and handing them off."
In the book, Snow said he had no idea how many people he pulled from the building. When he couldn't see anymore bodies, Snow put a napkin over his mouth and crawled into the building feeling for more, he wrote.
Finding nothing he crawled back to the exit where a doctor told him he could not go in anymore.
"He's lucky that he didn't die in it because most of the people that died, it was the smoke that killed them," Brock said.
Brock said he learned of Snow's death because someone who used to work with Brock now works for the Hamilton County Coroner's office. He then learned that no one had claimed his remains.
Brocks said he last talked to his friend about six months ago.
"I've always kept up Willie. He's a good man, he's always worked hard," said Brock, who now runs Sin City Antiques and Treasures in Newport.
After the Supper Club, Snow continued to work for the Schilling family as he had done for the 20 years before the fire. He also continued to work with Brock. The two worked on Islands, a boat on the river, and then on the boat when it became Splash in Louisville.
Eleven years after the Supper Club incident, Snow was again part of a rescue.
He was driving home from Louisville when he happened upon a bus crash on Interstate 71 near Carrollton.
"It's amazing," Brock said. "He saw what was happening and ran across...and was pulling bodies out of that bus as well."
The crash turned out to be the worst drunken-driving crash in U.S. history, killing 24 children and three adults.
"He was a lifesaver," Brock said of his friend.
After Brock publicized his friend's plight a Mason funeral home volunteered Wednesday to handle services and burial for Snow.
Mike Ryan with Shorten and Ryan Funeral Home contacted Brock and the Hamilton County Coroner's office.
Ryan could not be reached for comment.
Visitiation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Imwalle Memorial, 4811 Vine St., in St. Bernard. Burial will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday Vine Street Hill Cemetery.
A fund has been set up to reimburse the funeral home. Donations can be made at Citizen's Bank, at 103 Churchill Drive in Newport to Family and Friends of Beverly Hills.
Brock was pleased that he helped secure a proper burial for his friend.
"It's the right thing to do," Brock said. "I've known the man for 39 years of my life, I would hope that he would do the same for me."
October 27, 2011
Written by Brenna R. Kelly
Proper burial sought for rescuer in Beverly Hills fire
Willie Snow's family can't pay for funeral
More than 34 years ago, Willie Snow rescued complete strangers from the burning Beverly Hills Supper Club, now thanks to his longtime friend and co-worker strangers are helping to find a final resting place for Snow.
Snow, of Bond Hill in Cincinnati, died in August. He was 80.
Since then no one has claimed his body, said his friend, Dave Brock, of Independence.
Snow's family does not have the money to pay for a funeral or burial, said Brock, who worked with Snow in the kitchen of the Supper Club.
On May 28, 1977, Snow pulled people both dead and alive from the sprawling Southgate club as the fire raged inside.
Many of those bodies he handed off to Brock, then an 18-year-old busboy.
"Willie realized that bodies were stacking up at the doorway and he just kept going in and out for 45 minutes to an hour just pulling people out two at a time and handing them off to us," Brock said.
That night 165 people died in the fire and more than 200 were injured.
Snow recounted his experiences that night in the 1996 book "Inside the Beverly Hills Supper Club Fire," by Ron Elliott.
Snow, the head dishwasher, was in the kitchen when someone told him the Zebra room was hot. He and one of the owners went to the basement to check for fire but saw nothing. About 30 minutes later, smoke was reported in the Zebra room. They rushed to the basement and saw flames inside the Zebra room wall, Snow recalled.
He went upstairs and alerted the staff to get the patrons out of the building. Then went outside where people were yelling "Cabaret Room, Cabaret Room."
Snow and two other men began pulling bodies from the smoke filled entrance where they had begun to pile up.
"No one came out under their own power after I arrived," he wrote.
Brock and others carried the bodies to a triage area as Snow pulled them out.
"He was a large man and he could carry two or three," Brock said. "It was like going into a war zone and he was just bringing them out and handing them off."
In the book, Snow said he had no idea how many people he pulled from the building. When he couldn't see anymore bodies, Snow put a napkin over his mouth and crawled into the building feeling for more, he wrote.
Finding nothing he crawled back to the exit where a doctor told him he could not go in anymore.
"He's lucky that he didn't die in it because most of the people that died, it was the smoke that killed them," Brock said.
Brock said he learned of Snow's death because someone who used to work with Brock now works for the Hamilton County Coroner's office. He then learned that no one had claimed his remains.
Brocks said he last talked to his friend about six months ago.
"I've always kept up Willie. He's a good man, he's always worked hard," said Brock, who now runs Sin City Antiques and Treasures in Newport.
After the Supper Club, Snow continued to work for the Schilling family as he had done for the 20 years before the fire. He also continued to work with Brock. The two worked on Islands, a boat on the river, and then on the boat when it became Splash in Louisville.
Eleven years after the Supper Club incident, Snow was again part of a rescue.
He was driving home from Louisville when he happened upon a bus crash on Interstate 71 near Carrollton.
"It's amazing," Brock said. "He saw what was happening and ran across...and was pulling bodies out of that bus as well."
The crash turned out to be the worst drunken-driving crash in U.S. history, killing 24 children and three adults.
"He was a lifesaver," Brock said of his friend.
After Brock publicized his friend's plight a Mason funeral home volunteered Wednesday to handle services and burial for Snow.
Mike Ryan with Shorten and Ryan Funeral Home contacted Brock and the Hamilton County Coroner's office.
Ryan could not be reached for comment.
Visitiation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Imwalle Memorial, 4811 Vine St., in St. Bernard. Burial will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday Vine Street Hill Cemetery.
A fund has been set up to reimburse the funeral home. Donations can be made at Citizen's Bank, at 103 Churchill Drive in Newport to Family and Friends of Beverly Hills.
Brock was pleased that he helped secure a proper burial for his friend.
"It's the right thing to do," Brock said. "I've known the man for 39 years of my life, I would hope that he would do the same for me."
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