It was a dark and rainy night March 16, 1980. Springtime rains were pouring strong, and the waterways throughout Memphis had been rising as they usually do after hard rains. Around 11pm, Maurice Salmon was on his way home heading Southbound on Perkins Street when he saw headlights from oncoming traffic disappear.
As it turns out, a section of the northbound lane had collapsed, causing a car with two passengers to plunge into the rapids of the nearby Nonconnah Creek. Without hesitation and regards to himself, Mr. Salmon quickly swerved his car into oncoming traffic, blocking access to the damaged area. He then entered the raging creek to further assist those that went overboard. As recalled by one of the survivors, "he had to enter the water to get me up the embankment and over a fence. He put me in his own vehicle until the ambulance was available. Then I never saw him again." Memphis police officer, Troy Daniel, whom responded to the scene that night, praised Mr. Salmon, and even wrote a letter of commendation on him; "he did better than most policemen would have done. He risked his own life. He was remarkable."
Mr. Salmon's family said he was always a very private and humble person and never wanted to be interviewed, or even talk about what happened that night. Sadly, one of the victims that did not survive that night was a friend, and Maurice took the memory harshly.
I was a young child living in Memphis when this incident took place. I recall hearing the news of the bridge partially collapsing as I was on my way to school that morning. Although I never knew the story of Maurice Salmon, after some research, I was acquainted to this unspoken Memphis hero. His unselfishness and humbleness is a fitting example of caring for others without regard to oneself. Maurice never considered himself a hero, but to those who knew him and to those whose lives he touched, he was nothing short of one.