Welles Remy Crowther was an American volunteer firefighter and equities trader for Sandler O'Neill and Partners. He worked at the World Trade Center and is credited with saving the lives of at least 18 people during the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 before losing his own life during the South Tower collapse.
Crowther was born on May 17, 1977 in New York City to Jefferson and Allison Crowther. He was the eldest of three children and his parents raised him and his younger sisters, Honor and Paige, in Nyack, New York. When Welles was six years old his father gave him a red bandanna to keep in his pocket. Welles would continue to use a red bandana throughout his life, including using it underneath his sports uniforms in high school and college.
Crowther was 16 years old when he became a volunteer firefighter, joining his father in the Empire Hook and Ladder Company as a junior member. He was accepted to Boston College, where he played lacrosse and graduated with a degree in economics. He soon moved to New York City and found a job as an equities trader working for Sandler O'Neill and Partners, located on the 104th floor of the South Tower of the World Trade Center.
On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, Crowther called his mother from his office on the 104th floor at 9:12 am, several minutes after United Airlines flight 175 struck the tower just 19 floors beneath him. He left the message, "Mom, this is Welles. I wanted you to know that I'm OK."
Crowther continually defied the odds on that fateful day. The survival rate for those who were trapped above the impact zone was just โ. However, Crowther managed to find a way to escape, and made it down to the 78th-floor sky lobby, and it was there that he encountered a group of injured survivors. Crowther placed an injured woman on his back and instructed others who were able to walk to follow him. Crowther lead them to the only working stairway and down 17 floors, where he dropped off the woman he had been carrying and headed back up to the 78th floor to help others. It was around this time that he covered his nose and mouth with his red bandanna to protect himself from the intense smoke and haze. He encountered another group of survivors, helped in administering first aid and extinguishing fires, and then again lead them down the staircase to safety. Crowther did this at least one more time with FDNY firefighters before the South Tower collapsed at 9:59am.
After months of painstaking searching, his body was finally recovered in March 2002. Alongside him were several other firefighters at the command post in the lobby of the South Tower. It was concluded that Crowther was aiding emergency workers in a rescue effort when the building collapsed.
In the weeks and months after the September 11th terrorist attacks, people began to tell their stories of survival and being saved by a "man in a red bandana." South Tower survivor Judy Wein recalled being saved by a "man in a red bandana" in an interview for a New York Times article. Crowther's mother, Allison, read this article, began to put the pieces of these survival accounts together, and realized that the man they were talking about was her son. Allison Crowther soon met with Wein, who confirmed with photograph that the man who had saved her was Welles Crowther.
Crowther's family created the Red Bandana Project and the Welles Remy Crowther Charitable Trust, which funds charitable work for communities and youth character-development programs. Crowther was posthumously named an honorary New York City firefighter in 2006 by the FDNY commissioner. The annual Welles Remy Crowther Red Bandana 5K Run is held every October at Boston College.
Crowther was buried at Grace Episcopal Church and Columbarium in Nyack, New York on March 30, 2002. Family friend Vui Morgan read in a poem during Crowther's service, "Welles has reached the portal. The way outside was clear; both towers blazed above him. He must have known real fear. But he sensed an urgent need there. In the chaos and debris. So he turned back from the exit to help others get free."
Crowther is also memorialized at the National 9/11 Memorial South Pool in Lower Manhattan, with his name located on Panel S-50. One of Crowther's personal red bandanas is on display within the museum. During the dedication of the National 9/11 Memorial in May 2014, President Barack Obama recalled Crowther's selfless acts of heroism and his willingness to sacrifice his own life to save others. "They didn't know his name. They didn't know where he came from. But they knew their lives had been saved by the man in the red bandana. He called for fire extinguishers to fight back the flames. He tended to the wounded. He led those survivors down the stairs to safety, and carried a woman on his shoulders down 17 flights. Then he went back. Back up all those flights. Then back down again, bringing more wounded to safety. Until that moment when the tower fell."
Crowther was born on May 17, 1977 in New York City to Jefferson and Allison Crowther. He was the eldest of three children and his parents raised him and his younger sisters, Honor and Paige, in Nyack, New York. When Welles was six years old his father gave him a red bandanna to keep in his pocket. Welles would continue to use a red bandana throughout his life, including using it underneath his sports uniforms in high school and college.
Crowther was 16 years old when he became a volunteer firefighter, joining his father in the Empire Hook and Ladder Company as a junior member. He was accepted to Boston College, where he played lacrosse and graduated with a degree in economics. He soon moved to New York City and found a job as an equities trader working for Sandler O'Neill and Partners, located on the 104th floor of the South Tower of the World Trade Center.
On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, Crowther called his mother from his office on the 104th floor at 9:12 am, several minutes after United Airlines flight 175 struck the tower just 19 floors beneath him. He left the message, "Mom, this is Welles. I wanted you to know that I'm OK."
Crowther continually defied the odds on that fateful day. The survival rate for those who were trapped above the impact zone was just โ. However, Crowther managed to find a way to escape, and made it down to the 78th-floor sky lobby, and it was there that he encountered a group of injured survivors. Crowther placed an injured woman on his back and instructed others who were able to walk to follow him. Crowther lead them to the only working stairway and down 17 floors, where he dropped off the woman he had been carrying and headed back up to the 78th floor to help others. It was around this time that he covered his nose and mouth with his red bandanna to protect himself from the intense smoke and haze. He encountered another group of survivors, helped in administering first aid and extinguishing fires, and then again lead them down the staircase to safety. Crowther did this at least one more time with FDNY firefighters before the South Tower collapsed at 9:59am.
After months of painstaking searching, his body was finally recovered in March 2002. Alongside him were several other firefighters at the command post in the lobby of the South Tower. It was concluded that Crowther was aiding emergency workers in a rescue effort when the building collapsed.
In the weeks and months after the September 11th terrorist attacks, people began to tell their stories of survival and being saved by a "man in a red bandana." South Tower survivor Judy Wein recalled being saved by a "man in a red bandana" in an interview for a New York Times article. Crowther's mother, Allison, read this article, began to put the pieces of these survival accounts together, and realized that the man they were talking about was her son. Allison Crowther soon met with Wein, who confirmed with photograph that the man who had saved her was Welles Crowther.
Crowther's family created the Red Bandana Project and the Welles Remy Crowther Charitable Trust, which funds charitable work for communities and youth character-development programs. Crowther was posthumously named an honorary New York City firefighter in 2006 by the FDNY commissioner. The annual Welles Remy Crowther Red Bandana 5K Run is held every October at Boston College.
Crowther was buried at Grace Episcopal Church and Columbarium in Nyack, New York on March 30, 2002. Family friend Vui Morgan read in a poem during Crowther's service, "Welles has reached the portal. The way outside was clear; both towers blazed above him. He must have known real fear. But he sensed an urgent need there. In the chaos and debris. So he turned back from the exit to help others get free."
Crowther is also memorialized at the National 9/11 Memorial South Pool in Lower Manhattan, with his name located on Panel S-50. One of Crowther's personal red bandanas is on display within the museum. During the dedication of the National 9/11 Memorial in May 2014, President Barack Obama recalled Crowther's selfless acts of heroism and his willingness to sacrifice his own life to save others. "They didn't know his name. They didn't know where he came from. But they knew their lives had been saved by the man in the red bandana. He called for fire extinguishers to fight back the flames. He tended to the wounded. He led those survivors down the stairs to safety, and carried a woman on his shoulders down 17 flights. Then he went back. Back up all those flights. Then back down again, bringing more wounded to safety. Until that moment when the tower fell."
Welles Remy Crowther was an American volunteer firefighter and equities trader for Sandler O'Neill and Partners. He worked at the World Trade Center and is credited with saving the lives of at least 18 people during the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 before losing his own life during the South Tower collapse.
Crowther was born on May 17, 1977 in New York City to Jefferson and Allison Crowther. He was the eldest of three children and his parents raised him and his younger sisters, Honor and Paige, in Nyack, New York. When Welles was six years old his father gave him a red bandanna to keep in his pocket. Welles would continue to use a red bandana throughout his life, including using it underneath his sports uniforms in high school and college.
Crowther was 16 years old when he became a volunteer firefighter, joining his father in the Empire Hook and Ladder Company as a junior member. He was accepted to Boston College, where he played lacrosse and graduated with a degree in economics. He soon moved to New York City and found a job as an equities trader working for Sandler O'Neill and Partners, located on the 104th floor of the South Tower of the World Trade Center.
On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, Crowther called his mother from his office on the 104th floor at 9:12 am, several minutes after United Airlines flight 175 struck the tower just 19 floors beneath him. He left the message, "Mom, this is Welles. I wanted you to know that I'm OK."
Crowther continually defied the odds on that fateful day. The survival rate for those who were trapped above the impact zone was just โ. However, Crowther managed to find a way to escape, and made it down to the 78th-floor sky lobby, and it was there that he encountered a group of injured survivors. Crowther placed an injured woman on his back and instructed others who were able to walk to follow him. Crowther lead them to the only working stairway and down 17 floors, where he dropped off the woman he had been carrying and headed back up to the 78th floor to help others. It was around this time that he covered his nose and mouth with his red bandanna to protect himself from the intense smoke and haze. He encountered another group of survivors, helped in administering first aid and extinguishing fires, and then again lead them down the staircase to safety. Crowther did this at least one more time with FDNY firefighters before the South Tower collapsed at 9:59am.
After months of painstaking searching, his body was finally recovered in March 2002. Alongside him were several other firefighters at the command post in the lobby of the South Tower. It was concluded that Crowther was aiding emergency workers in a rescue effort when the building collapsed.
In the weeks and months after the September 11th terrorist attacks, people began to tell their stories of survival and being saved by a "man in a red bandana." South Tower survivor Judy Wein recalled being saved by a "man in a red bandana" in an interview for a New York Times article. Crowther's mother, Allison, read this article, began to put the pieces of these survival accounts together, and realized that the man they were talking about was her son. Allison Crowther soon met with Wein, who confirmed with photograph that the man who had saved her was Welles Crowther.
Crowther's family created the Red Bandana Project and the Welles Remy Crowther Charitable Trust, which funds charitable work for communities and youth character-development programs. Crowther was posthumously named an honorary New York City firefighter in 2006 by the FDNY commissioner. The annual Welles Remy Crowther Red Bandana 5K Run is held every October at Boston College.
Crowther was buried at Grace Episcopal Church and Columbarium in Nyack, New York on March 30, 2002. Family friend Vui Morgan read in a poem during Crowther's service, "Welles has reached the portal. The way outside was clear; both towers blazed above him. He must have known real fear. But he sensed an urgent need there. In the chaos and debris. So he turned back from the exit to help others get free."
Crowther is also memorialized at the National 9/11 Memorial South Pool in Lower Manhattan, with his name located on Panel S-50. One of Crowther's personal red bandanas is on display within the museum. During the dedication of the National 9/11 Memorial in May 2014, President Barack Obama recalled Crowther's selfless acts of heroism and his willingness to sacrifice his own life to save others. "They didn't know his name. They didn't know where he came from. But they knew their lives had been saved by the man in the red bandana. He called for fire extinguishers to fight back the flames. He tended to the wounded. He led those survivors down the stairs to safety, and carried a woman on his shoulders down 17 flights. Then he went back. Back up all those flights. Then back down again, bringing more wounded to safety. Until that moment when the tower fell."
Crowther was born on May 17, 1977 in New York City to Jefferson and Allison Crowther. He was the eldest of three children and his parents raised him and his younger sisters, Honor and Paige, in Nyack, New York. When Welles was six years old his father gave him a red bandanna to keep in his pocket. Welles would continue to use a red bandana throughout his life, including using it underneath his sports uniforms in high school and college.
Crowther was 16 years old when he became a volunteer firefighter, joining his father in the Empire Hook and Ladder Company as a junior member. He was accepted to Boston College, where he played lacrosse and graduated with a degree in economics. He soon moved to New York City and found a job as an equities trader working for Sandler O'Neill and Partners, located on the 104th floor of the South Tower of the World Trade Center.
On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, Crowther called his mother from his office on the 104th floor at 9:12 am, several minutes after United Airlines flight 175 struck the tower just 19 floors beneath him. He left the message, "Mom, this is Welles. I wanted you to know that I'm OK."
Crowther continually defied the odds on that fateful day. The survival rate for those who were trapped above the impact zone was just โ. However, Crowther managed to find a way to escape, and made it down to the 78th-floor sky lobby, and it was there that he encountered a group of injured survivors. Crowther placed an injured woman on his back and instructed others who were able to walk to follow him. Crowther lead them to the only working stairway and down 17 floors, where he dropped off the woman he had been carrying and headed back up to the 78th floor to help others. It was around this time that he covered his nose and mouth with his red bandanna to protect himself from the intense smoke and haze. He encountered another group of survivors, helped in administering first aid and extinguishing fires, and then again lead them down the staircase to safety. Crowther did this at least one more time with FDNY firefighters before the South Tower collapsed at 9:59am.
After months of painstaking searching, his body was finally recovered in March 2002. Alongside him were several other firefighters at the command post in the lobby of the South Tower. It was concluded that Crowther was aiding emergency workers in a rescue effort when the building collapsed.
In the weeks and months after the September 11th terrorist attacks, people began to tell their stories of survival and being saved by a "man in a red bandana." South Tower survivor Judy Wein recalled being saved by a "man in a red bandana" in an interview for a New York Times article. Crowther's mother, Allison, read this article, began to put the pieces of these survival accounts together, and realized that the man they were talking about was her son. Allison Crowther soon met with Wein, who confirmed with photograph that the man who had saved her was Welles Crowther.
Crowther's family created the Red Bandana Project and the Welles Remy Crowther Charitable Trust, which funds charitable work for communities and youth character-development programs. Crowther was posthumously named an honorary New York City firefighter in 2006 by the FDNY commissioner. The annual Welles Remy Crowther Red Bandana 5K Run is held every October at Boston College.
Crowther was buried at Grace Episcopal Church and Columbarium in Nyack, New York on March 30, 2002. Family friend Vui Morgan read in a poem during Crowther's service, "Welles has reached the portal. The way outside was clear; both towers blazed above him. He must have known real fear. But he sensed an urgent need there. In the chaos and debris. So he turned back from the exit to help others get free."
Crowther is also memorialized at the National 9/11 Memorial South Pool in Lower Manhattan, with his name located on Panel S-50. One of Crowther's personal red bandanas is on display within the museum. During the dedication of the National 9/11 Memorial in May 2014, President Barack Obama recalled Crowther's selfless acts of heroism and his willingness to sacrifice his own life to save others. "They didn't know his name. They didn't know where he came from. But they knew their lives had been saved by the man in the red bandana. He called for fire extinguishers to fight back the flames. He tended to the wounded. He led those survivors down the stairs to safety, and carried a woman on his shoulders down 17 flights. Then he went back. Back up all those flights. Then back down again, bringing more wounded to safety. Until that moment when the tower fell."
Bio by: Ashley Riley
