Paul J. Dore, 31, newspaper circulation sales manager, saved Lesa L. Boyd, 16; Kimberli J. Stephens,3 months, and Joyce J. Stephens, 19, from drowning, Globe, Arizona, August 3. 1968. When, during a heavy rain, a deep drainage ditch became clogged and the overflowing water reached a nearby building, the occupants decided to leave. Miss Boyd was carrying her 5-year-old half brother; Mrs. Stephens was carrying her daughter Kimberli, and Miss Nancy Jean Nancarrow was carrying Jeffrey H. Stephens as they made their way to an opening in a wire fence backed by a dense hedge. On reaching the sidewalk, the three young women were knocked down by the very swift water, which was three feet deep. Miss Boyd lost her hold on her half brother, who was swept away and drowned. She succeeded in grasping the fence, as did Mrs. Stephens. Miss Nancarrow, holding Jeffrey, was carried to a position against a truck at a dairy company building. Dore witnessed the accident and, although he could not swim, made his way to the fence, where he also was knocked down by the swift water. He was carried to a telephone pole, to which he clung. Mrs. Stephens and Miss Boyd still were holding to the fence but were unable to secure footing in the swift water. Dore jumped four and a half feet over the water to alongside the fence, which he grasped with both hands. He aided Miss Boyd over the fence to a wedged position between it and the hedge. Dore then handed Kimberli to Miss Boyd. After aiding Mrs. Stephens over the fence, Dore also climbed over it and waited with the others in the hedge. Meanwhile Ben S. Guerrero, who was in a safe position at the opposite side of the street, had noticed that Miss Nancarrow, holding Jeffrey, was unable to secure footing in the swift water alongside the truck. Guerrero crossed the street in water, which increased in depth and swiftness. He had lost his shoes by the time he reached the truck. Guerrero held to the vehicle and made his way to Miss Nancarrow in swift water three feet deep. He aided her in securing footing. With Guerrero’s help, Miss Nancarrow and Jeffrey were moved over the hood of the truck and into the dairy building, where they waited with Guerrero until the water subsided. 50381-5536
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