Boy Honored For Stopping Bus After Its Driver Suffers Stroke

Another day, another honor for Larry Champagne III, the 10-year-old who’s been feted by celebrities, politicians, broadcasters and reporters.

On Thursday, it was another all-school assembly with gifts and special visitors to honor Larry, a fifth-grader who took control of his school bus Oct. 3 when the driver suffered a stroke.

“As Larry has said, a hero’s work is never done,” the principal, Dr. Kenneth Russell, said as he called Larry to a special seat by the podium.

Larry squirmed, smiled at his Bellerive Elementary School classmates and stifled a yawn after taking his seat.

But he was all grins when representatives from Laidlaw Bus Co. presented him with a hefty St. Louis Rams jacket, a hat and tickets to a game.

They also announced a $10,000 donation to the Larry Champagne III college education fund, to a chorus of “wows” from the audience.

Larry was riding to school on Bus No. 3 last week when he saw the driver, Ernestine Blackman, slump down and slide from her seat. He raced to the front of the careening bus from his seat halfway back, stomped on the brake and brought it to a halt. Other students then came to his aid.

Blackman remains hospitalized but is doing much better, school officials said.