Garland, Texas - Real action heroes are not just in the movies or on Saturday morning cartoons. Three of them were on duty at GP&L's C.E. Newman power plant at 5:45 am Saturday August 5, 2000 when an explosion and fire broke out at the plant.

Generation Control Operator Tom Gandy was on the mezzanine level taking readings which placed him next to the blast. The explosion knocked him to the floor. Banged and bruised he was able to get a fire extinguished and put out fires on both the mezzanine and basement levels.

L-R: Max Hamilton, Tom Gandy and Steve Watkins

Equally quick action by Shift Supervisor, Steve Watkins and Generation Control Operator, Max Hamilton, prevented any further damage to the plant. When ask about his actions Gandy credited his ability to respond quickly to his 20 years of Naval training. After the accident Tom was taken to Garland Community hospital were he was treated and released.

Because of the actions of these employees, damage to the plant was kept to a minimum and GP&L continued to generate sufficient energy to meet the high summer demands.