Few pieces of clothing ever receive recognition unless they are worn by a celebrity or designed by a famous designer. A simple red bandana, however, is neither. But it still remains etched in the minds of the many Americans who still remember the tale of the ‘Man in the Red Bandana.’ Welles Crowther was a 24-year-old equities trader working on the 104th floor of the South Tower of the World Trade Center when it came under attack from terrorists. Welles helped people escape from the burning building by guiding them through the staircase, even carrying some of them on his back.

After helping people get to safety, Welles went back up the building. He wrapped his face with a red bandana and helped get more people out. Sadly, he never made it out himself. But his story did. The unbelievable tale of courage soon became public, thanks to the people he helped save. He was directly responsible for saving the lives of at least 18 people. On the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, tributes for Welles Crowther started pouring in. Among those leading the tributes was a well-respected sports and entertainment promoter.

A Heartfelt Tribute to Welles Crowther

Bernard Hopkins, Jermain Taylor, Amanda Serrano, and Andre Berto all owe their careers to the legendary boxing promoter Lou DiBella. Before becoming a promoter, he started out as a TV executive. He created DiBella Entertainment back in 2000. Since then, he has also bought two minor-league baseball teams. In a recent Twitter post, on the anniversary of 9/11, he brought back memories of the ‘Man in the Red Bandana.’

In an effort to ensure that the name of Welles Crowther is remembered and his legacy doesn’t pass into obscurity, Lou DiBella led a touching tribute, bringing back the memory of the hero who gave up his life to save others. He captioned the image: “Rest in peace, Welles Crowther, American hero. Love to his family, who raised a great man. #NeverForgotten #NeverAgain #September11.”

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Many others offered tributes to Crowther as well. Jake Eisenberg, the sports broadcaster, shared a short video with the caption: “The Man in the Red Bandanna. The story of Welles Crowther’s actions on 9/11/01 is one of earnest courage, sacrifice beyond measure, & love. Watching—especially today—is as heart-rending as it is inspirational. Never forget.”

Barstool Sports dedicated a special broadcast to Welles Crowther in honor of the 9/11 remembrance day.

The Red Bandana Project

Over the years, Welles Crowther has been posthumously honored many times by different groups and organizations. He was posthumously made an honorary New York City firefighter in 2006. In 2014, President Barack Obama offered a touching tribute to Crowther as he dedicated the 9/11 Museum to the victims and their families.

In 2011, his name was engraved on the plaque at the 9/11 Memorial while his Red Bandana was kept on display at the Museum, where it still remains. After his tragic death, Crowther’s family started the Red Bandana Project in his honor to promote the values of courage, compassion, and selflessness, the values which he stood for.

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