AUSTIN -- They were historic hires in a time of racial segregation. Now the men who helped break the color barrier inside one city department are being remembered with a special sculpture.
In 1952 Willie Ray Davis, Roy Greene, and Nathaniel Kindred made history. They were the first African-Americans hired by the Austin Fire Department. The three men were also the first black firefighters in the state of Texas.
Marvin Douglas was the fourth African-American hired by the fire department.
“I was hired April 16th 1953,” Douglas said.
Now 85 years old, Douglas says breaking the color barrier wasn't easy for his three friends.
“Captain Davis, Kindred, Greene -- they were great people,” Douglas said. “We had separate face basins, separate commodes, temporarily, but these guys fought the deal and they changed that situation.”
Dusty reminders of the struggles and accomplishments of Austin's first black fire fighters sit inside Austin's Fire Museum. It's a look back at a tumultuous time of racial integration.
On Saturday Davis, Greene, and Kindred will be remembered for their roles in civil rights history with a statue in their honor. The two-foot bronze structure will feature each firefighter's name, their picture, and their biography. For now, the statue is being kept under wraps.
The number of minorities on the force have obviously gone up since the first three were hired. Right now the Austin Fire Department has 908 firefighters; 761 are white, 139 are Hispanic, 47 are African-American, nine are Asian, and four are American Indian.
In the latest cadet class of 41 people, three are African-American. In the Sr. Cadet class, there are two African-Americans.
“There's always room for improvement," said Bobby Johns, President of Austin’s African-American Firefighters Association. "We're still under our demographic of the city."
Johns says things have definitely changed for the better since Greene, Davis, and Kindred were first hired almost 60 years ago.
“There's more of an atmosphere of understanding between the races, I believe," Johns said. “And all this makes for a better atmosphere within the fire department.”
The sculpture honoring the three men cost about $55,000 and was funded by the city's Art In Public Places program. It will be unveiled Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Carver Museum in East Austin. The public is invited to attend.
