The first Black firefighters served the City of Raleigh beginning in the 1860s as members of volunteer fire companies, including the Bucket and Ladder Company (1872 to 1892) and the Victor Company (1870 to 1912). The second era of Black firefighters began in 1963, with the hiring of the City’s first career Black firefighters.
From February 1963 to April 1964, seven Black firefighters were hired. They were Larry Gene Williams, Welton Jones (pictured), Louis Stephens, James Giles, James Greene, Norwood Peacock, and Richmond Davis.
Six of the seven were assigned to Station 2, which was located in the rear of Memorial Auditorium. Three firefighters were on each shift, and they worked alongside white firefighters. However, though they were an integrated fire company, they had segregated living quarters. By the summer of 1965, the Black members of Engine 2 were dispersed to other stations, and the Raleigh Fire Department became fully integrated.
The original seven members had varying lengths of service, most rising through the ranks. Four of them retired after 25 or more years of service: Lt. Jones in 1988, Lt. Stephens in 1991, Capt. Peacock in 1990, and Division Chief Richmond Davis in 1994.
(This story was written by RFD Historian Mike Legeros.)