Garner W Gipson (1921 - 1937)

Born 22 Mar 1921 in Texas, United States

Ancestors

Died 18 Mar 1937 at age 15 in New London, Rusk, Texas, United States

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Biography

15 year old "GW" and his cousins, Twilia, James and Virgal, were victims of the explosion at the school in New London, TX on March 18, 1937. Son of Riley James Gibson & Martha Emma Phillips-Gipson-Welch.

The New London School explosion occurred on March 18, 1937, when a natural gas leak caused an explosion, destroying the London School of New London, Texas, a community in Rusk County previously known as "London". The disaster killed more than 295 students and teachers. As of 2017, the event is the third deadliest disaster in the history of Texas, after the 1900 Galveston hurricane and the 1947 Texas City disaster.

London School did not publish a yearbook in 1937, instead substituting a memorial book that recognized all of the students and teachers who had died during the disaster.

Sources

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14313797/garner-w_-gipson

• https://www.facebook.com/newlondonmuseum/posts/remembering-garner-g-w-gipson6th-grade-victim-who-died-in-the-explosion-along-wi/1323349807767165/

• https://www.geni.com/people/Garner-Gipson/6000000007292071439

• 1930 US census

• Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982

• https://www.findagrave.com/virtual-cemetery/367568?page=3#sr-13698618

• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_London_School_explosion

• http://nlsd.net/Cenotaph.htm

• https://www.thestoryoftexas.com/discover/artifacts/1936-london-school-yearbook

• https://www.gluseum.com/US/New-London/665867160182103/New-London%2C-TX-School-Disaster-Museum