AFRICAN AMERICAN FIREFIGHTER MUSERUM

1401 S. CENTRAL AVENUELOS ANGELES, CA 90021

Tel (213) 744-1730Email: aaffmuseum@sbcglobal.net

Website: aaffmuseum.org

Museum Hours:Tues & Thur 10am to 2pm

Sun 1pm to 4pm

Available for group tours, meetings and special events

African American Firefighter Museum

presents

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PIONEERSSunday June 25, 2017

An exhibit ofPioneering African Americans in the Fire Service

throughout Southern CaliforniaAfrican American Firefighter Museum

Board of Directors and Advisory Council Message

The concept of Southern California Pioneers was a Board and Advisory Council

initiative to expand the reach and influence of the Museum and showcase

firefighters, paramedics and their respective departments from other areas. The

triumphs and challenges of these pioneers, the communities they protected and the

departments they served, deserved to be experienced on a grander scale than

cardboard boxes, dusty storage rooms and by word of mouth.

The Mission of the African American Firefighter Museum (Museum) is to collect,

conserve and share the heritage of African American Firefighters through

collaboration and education. During our strategic planning meeting in January of this

year, we decided to embrace the rich history to include African American Firefighters

and those that bravely supported their efforts of inclusion and diversity into the

Southern California region.

Being the first of your race or gender in any chosen field should be cause for

celebration, not exclusion. We salute these pioneers and respect and thank those

leaders within the Fire Service that understand and appreciate diversity. It is our

sincere hope that this exhibit will help create opportunities for dialogue, enhanced

recruitment of worthwhile minority candidates, and safer, more accepting fire service

community.

Front Cover Photo: Sam Haskins, LAFD, circa 1892

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Museum HistoryIn 1997, the Los Angeles Fire Department

celebrated the rebirth of the formerly segregated Fire

Station 30, located on historic Central Avenue, as the African American

Firefighter Museum (Museum) dedicated to preserving and sharing the

rich history of African American firefighters. For the past two decades, the

Museum has shared countless stories of perseverance, dedication to

service and selflessness, including our integration story to demonstrate

the power of individual and collaborative action in service to the

development of a more civil society. These pioneering individuals served

our communities with pride and excelled in spite of the adversity of the

time.

The preeminent refuge for memorabilia, historical documents, and

photographs related to African American firefighters, this local cultural

landmark #289 is grateful to the countless volunteers, fire service

organizations, and community members for supporting its mission to

collect, conserve and share the heritage of African American Firefighters

through collaboration and education.

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Photo: Engine 11 / Truck 30, circa 1925

Table of Contents

Program Agenda 3Sam Haskins, Los Angeles Fire Department

5James Forte, Culver City Fire Department 6Charles Watson, Torrance Fire Department 7Clarence Martin, Beverly Hills Fire Department

8Edmondo St. Cyr, Burbank Fire Department 9Bill Duncan, Pasadena Fire Department 10Timothy Williams, San Diego Fire Department

11Van Davis Jr, Los Angeles County Fire Department 12Otis Reid, Long Beach Fire Department 13Britt Williams, Cathedral City Fire Department

14Carl E. Alexander II, Arcadia Fire Department 15 Rick M. Bullard, Redlands Fire Department 16

“A” Platoon, Bakersfield Fire Department

17“B” Platoon, Bakersfield Fire Department 18Lawrence Shaddock, Compton Fire Department 19Steve Ward, Montclair Fire Department

20Museum History 22

African American Firefighter Museumpresents

Southern California PioneersAgenda

1. Welcome

2. Recognition of Dignitaries

3. AAFFM President’s message

4. Open Microphone (comments limited to 2 minutes per person)

5. Closing Remarks

6. Tour of Southern California Pioneers exhibit

The African American Firefighter Museum will be open for docent lead or self-guided tours

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Photo: Unknown driver / Engine 14, circa 1935

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