Beckham County, OK - Deaths: Roy William Sinor, 1928
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell)

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SINOR, ROY WILLIAM
(27 Dec 1928, Elk City News Democrat, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK):
Roy Sinor, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Sinor of this city, was fatally
burned in an explosion which occurred in the office of the Griffith Bros.
theater at Pampa, Texas, early Wednesday morning.
Details of the accident are lacking as the paper goes to press, other than
that the explosion was caused by gas escaping into the room.  His wife was
here spending the Christmas holidays with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. L.
Snyder, and it is said that Roy was sleeping in the office of the theater
during her absence.  It is the supposition that the gas stove had been
turned on accidentally, and that Roy, without knowing this, attempted to
light the stove.  He was severely burned about the head and body.  It was
thought, later in the day that he had a chance to recover, but he passed
away about midnight Wednesday night.
Immediately after the accident Mrs. Sinor and Dee Sinor left for Pampa,
and C. E. Wagner left later in the day to see that everything possible
might be done for the injured boy.  The head office of the firm was called
and Mr. Wagner was instructed to see that Roy had the best attention that
money could provide.
The news of the accident was a distinct shock to Roy's friends here.  He
had been connected with the local theater for seven years, before being
given the management of the Pampa house, three years of the time was as
assistant manager.  During this time he came into contact with a large
number of people, all of whom admired him.  He was a steady, energetic and
ambitious young man and was steadily climbing in his business life.  He
had the confidence of the firm he represented and was making good in every
way.
A Grubitz & Son hearse went to Pampa last night after the body, but as the
paper goes to press funeral arrangements have not been made.
The News-Democrat and other friends of the bereaved families extend
sympathy in the sad loss.
(3 Jan 1929, Elk City Newspaper, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK):
Last rites for Roy Sinor were held Friday at 3:00 p.m. at the Broadway
Methodist church in Elk City, when people of the town and out of town
friends mourned the passing away of one of the most respected and
promising young men of this town.
Rev. E. C. Webb conducted the funeral services.  Pall bearers were L. C.
Griffith, R. E. Griffith, H. J. Griffith, of the Griffith Brothers picture
corporation, and Fred Morley of Wink, Texas, Carl Benefield of Tonkawa,
and C. E. Wagner of the Rex theater.
Roy Sinor was fatally burned in a gas explosion at the office of the
theater which he managed at Pampa, Texas, at 4:20 a.m., Wednesday December
26.  He died shortly after 11:00 o'clock Wednesday night after every
effort of physicians and specialists had been made to save his life.  His
body was brought to Elk City Thursday morning.
Actual details of the explosion must remain indefinite but it is thought
the accident was caused from gas escaping from stove connections in the
office over the theater.  The gas is thought to have exploded when the
room became filled.  The stove may have been burning at the time for it
was found open by the firemen who made a record run to extinguish the
blaze.
His clothing ablaze from head to foot, Roy rushed into the street in front
of the theater.  There he was found by J. T. Johnson, night clerk at the
Johnson hotel, who was aroused by the noise of the blast.  Johnson ripped
off the blazing garments of the injured man and took him into the hotel
with the aid of his father, R. E. Johnson.  They then called a physician
and ambulance and notified the fire department.
Roy was conscious early Wednesday afternoon but his recovery was thought
problematical by physicians from the beginning.  He had gone to his
offices soon after midnight Wednesday where he was going to sleep during
the absence of his wife and son Billy, who were spending the Christmas
holidays with Mrs. Sinor's parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Snyder, at Elk
City.
The explosion blew out the office windows, scattering glass within a wide
radius.  Fireman saw the blaze almost immediately after the blast and uses
of the chemical truck prevented a costly fire.
Mr. Sinor had been in Pampa since December 4, 1926, after going there from
the Panhandle, where he had managed a theater.  One of his cherished
dreams was a larger and better theater for Pampa and the installations of
a Vitaphone.  His desire was nearing realization when his untimely death
overtook him.
Roy Sinor had achieved in the eight years of his theater activity success
in his field, such as few men realize in so short a time.  His first work
was with C. E. Wagner, manager of the Rex, when he began as an errand boy.
 His constant application to the work and his rapidity in learning soon
promoted him to higher positions in the theater until he became house
manager at Elk City.  In 1925 he went to the Panhandle as manager there
and from there he went to Pampa.  Mr. Wagner speaks of Roy's work as
unusual in every respect.
Roy Sinor is survived by his wife, his son Billy, his parents, Mr. and
Mrs. J. S. Sinor, his sister, Mrs. Gertrude Halderman, his brothers, J. D.
Sinor, Harold and Lloyd, and small sister, Ola Mae.
Grubitz and son had charge of the funeral with burial at Fairlawn Cemetery.

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