Boise B. Smith, III

Boise B. Smith III helped attempt to save Charles W. and Billy J. Christmas from drowning, Rockwall, Texas, April 27, 1985. Charles, 94, his son Billy, and two others were in a car that was stranded by the rising flood-waters of Buffalo Creek. Smith, 27, construction company president who was also on duty as a deputy sheriff, waded to the car and helped its two other occupants to dry land. After calling for help, he returned to the car and, joined by the fire chief, reached inside for Charles. The force of the water lifted the car and pulled it into the creek, where it lodged against the opening of a 300-foot-long culvert. Charles drowned. Smith, Billy, and the fire chief were pulled by the current through the culvert. The fire chief drowned. Smith was swept a mile downstream before he was able to leave the creek. Billy survived.