Marquette, MI – September 11th, 2025 – Wells Remy Crowther was born in Nyack, New York, on May 17, 1997. From a young age, he was always seen wearing his signature red bandana, which symbolized the connection between him and his father. At 16, Wells joined his father as a volunteer firefighter, becoming a junior member of the Empire Hook and Ladder Company. After graduating from high school he attended Boston College, where he played on the lacrosse team, and continued wearing his red bandana under his helmet. He graduated with honors in 1999, earning a degree in economics.
After college, Wells moved to New York City to work for Sandler O’Neill and Partners, where he was stationed on the 104th floor of the South Tower of the World Trade Center. Not long after starting his job, he called his father to express his desire to change careers and become a full-time firefighter. Then, on the morning of September 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 11 was crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Following the tragic incident, Wells called home and left a message saying, “Mom, this is Wells. I want you to know that I’m okay.” He was on the 78th floor, waiting with about 200 people to use the elevators to evacuate.
Suddenly, as survivor Ling Young described, “It just exploded.” At 9:02 a.m., United Flight 175 hit the South Tower, its wings cutting a direct path between the 78th and 84th floors. Ling recalls a young man appearing out of nowhere, urging everyone to follow him to find the stairs. He led Ling and many others to Stairway A, the only functional stairway remaining. They encountered firefighters on the 61st floor, who helped get them to working elevators on the 41st floor.
After guiding many people to safety, Wells made the brave decision to go back up rather than evacuate with the group he had just saved. He climbed 17 floors, returning to the burning sky lobby. After rescuing another group of injured people, Wells made a third trip. Tragically, at 9:59 a.m., the South Tower collapsed. Six months later, on March 19, 2002, Wells’ body was found in what was left of the South Tower lobby, next to uniformed firefighters. He saved twelve people during the tragic events of that day.
Today, Wells is remembered not only as a hero but also as the ultimate team player, always with a smile on his face. His alma mater, Boston College, hosts a yearly Red Bandana game in his honor. This year, it will take place on November 8th against SMU.
