Gladewater grad overcomes after home catches fire

Juan Loy was sitting in his living room between Gilmer and Big Sandy when he first smelled the smoke.

It was a Thursday in early May, about a month before the 17-year-old Gladewater High School senior was set to graduate, but in that moment, his only thoughts were getting his family out of the house and calling for help.

It was on a Thursday. I missed (school) that day and the next day to start cleaning up and get as much as we could out as soon as we could. Then all weekend I spent cleaning up, Juan said.

Faulty wiring in the attic was blamed for the fire, which worked its way across much of the home before firefighters could extinguish the blaze. What the flames didnt get became waterlogged.

Juan was at home with his father, mother, brothers daughter, sister and sisters family at the time of the blaze.

Juans mother had the presence of mind to grab his cap, gown and graduation invitations before evacuating the home.

It means a lot more now because I can still graduate, Juan said.

Juan, a Gladewater ISD every-man, has played sports, participates in the band and finished seventh in his class.

It took him the first several years of high school, but Juan finally left the basketball and track teams and focused on tennis, while playing brass instruments for the band.

A lifelong Bear, Juan began with the district as a student at Broadway Elementary School.

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Gladewater grad overcomes after home catches fire