TEXAS CITY, Texas -- A moment of silence was held worldwide Wednesday, one week after a refinery explosion and fire killed 15 workers and injured more than 100, Local 2 reported.

At the exact time of the blast at the BP refinery in Texas City, 1:20 p.m., workers stopped to remember the victims. Some bowed their heads in prayer, while others held hands and shed tears.

Hundreds of workers at the Texas City unit were among those who paused to pay their respects to those who died or were injured.

"I just felt close to a lot of them. I just wanted to come out and pay my respects," said Ron Hester, a BP contract worker.

Hester was among those who only came to the refinery Wednesday to observe the moment of silence.

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He knew half of the victims.

Morris King, 52; Larry Linsenbardt, 58; Ryan Rodriguez, 28; Larry Thomas, 63; Susan Taylor, 33; Eugene White, 53; Kimberly Smith, 43; Daniel Hogan, 58; Rafael Herrera, 27; Glen Bolton, 50; Jimmy Hunnings, 58; Linda Rowe, 47; James Rowe, 48; Lorena Cruz, 32; and Art Ramos, 59, died in the blast.

They were all contract workers. J.E. Merit Constructors Inc., a subsidiary of Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. in Pasadena, Calif., lost 11 workers. Another California company, Fluor Corp., lost three employees.

The blast happened in the plant's isomerization unit as part of it was brought up to full production after a two-week shutdown for routine maintenance.

Funeral Held For Art Ramos

One of the victims was laid to rest Wednesday.

Friends and family remembered Art Ramos as a loving father of five, grandfather of 13 and great-grandfather of three.

"He was admired by everyone who knew him," a mourner said.

At BP, he was respected for his expertise on the job.

"He often saved lives by what he saw was about to happen and he put a stop to it," co-worker Byron Terrell said.

Terrell was the quality control manager who hired Ramos in September.

"I believe that we will find that it was probably a human error that caused this tragedy," he said.

"(Workers) are angry. I know I am. I'd like to know what happened," said Jose Ramos, Art Ramos' brother.

Ramos was buried at Southpark Cemetery in Pearland with full military honors. He had served in Vietnam.

Nine people remain hospitalized from the blast.