From the Haskell Free Press, August 7, 1997. "A whole city was stunned and saddened this week by the tragic accident striking one of its families. Haskell farmer, Burnell Gilleland, age 70, and his grandson, Heath McMeans, age 23, a Correctional Officer from Lubbock, were both pronounced dead by Haskell County Justice of the Peace, Gina Brown, Sunday night when they failed to respond to resuscitation efforts. Both men had succumbed to toxic gas fumes inside the water well they were repairing. On the scene after responding quickly to the 911 call were Haskell County Sheriff Johnny Mills, Haskell Volunteer Fire Department, Haskell EMS, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Warden, Steve Barbour, and representatives from the Haskell City Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety. First to arrive, City Police Officer Roman Morgan was briefly hospitalized after attempting to rescue the men by climbing into the well. Wearing protective breathing apparatus, volunteer firemen then went into the well to retrieve the bodies. Representatives of the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission were in Haskell Monday testing the well site for the type and source of the deadly gas. County Sheriff Mills told the Free Press that preliminary unofficial findings indicated both methane and propane gas in the well. Later reports from the TNRCC confirmed a possible leak in a propane line in the area. Mary Lou Gilleland survives her husband Burnell. Sheila McMeans and Max McMeans of Haskell are parents of Heath McMeans. A joint funeral service was held Tuesday at the Haskell Church of Christ for the grandfather and grandson who enjoyed working together as best friends. Heath was born on February 17, 1974 in Haskell and was a 1992 graduate of Haskell High School and from South Plains College in Levelland in 1995. He was employed as a correctional officer for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice since 1995 and was working at the Jon Monford Unit in Lubbock. He was a member of the Church of Christ in Haskell.