Firefighters reunite with now-grown boy they saved more than 40 years ago

Credit: FOX23.com

Credit: FOX23.com

group of retired firefighters was recently reunited with a now-grown boy they rescued from a house fire more than 40 years ago.

The fire happened on Memorial Day weekend in 1978.

Two boys -- ages 3 and 4 -- were trapped inside the home, and this group of firefighters got both of them out. Only 4-year-old Jay Slack survived.

He invited Capt. Ray Dale Dawson to his graduation at Glenpool High School -- and later his wedding in 2004.

Dawson went to both.

Slack later tracked down a photo of Dawson giving him CPR after the fire that he used to reconnect 14 years later in 1992.

The captain died in December 2019.

Slack went to Dawson’s funeral, where he reconnected with other members of the crew who didn’t know he and the captain had already reconnected before.

Vern Landers, Ron Fagaly and Dick Cagle told KOKI they were speechless when they saw Slack at the funeral and they were thrilled to know he is doing well now as a 45-year-old man.

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