I Date Referred : i, Referred To : I I 1 Date Referred : / 4-7, - Referred To: Refer To To aret17.7 -... Refer -il. gaili IIIM AY f ' / Date Referred:, ' ja/p/ /,2_0/2.. Z 1 6 751; ( 4 Ac6-,1=1* # Referred To: :6" ' ji, ixoc, Fq/Pigalt62-:WiliffEFER 021:., VI pi 1 st ADOPT 2 ND READ &REFER,..., i em 8,. rs,, Members I I REGULAR REPORT REFER ' av,..., Adv, Hold (see rev. side) Fav, Ad v, Hold ( see rev. si de) ADVERTISE & REFER Other Other O CT 1 5 201 2 CO(' MAYOR'S ACTION Date Date COUNCIL /4// s-/,2-, Chair Chair I CONSENT REFER AA 4.A. eon Action Co m mittee C o m mittee CONFIRM ED By?_(:._ /9,z _ otz. WWI AL CI.- ;;--;1 Refer To u ;. t, L Refer To..,. CO L 0 A.../aid IffilffirAMIPAir al Irani 1.1 ilirdt 1 1" I NI/AINIMPLIrt l ) H >>MHt:J>ch 0 AS f')047. ''llootlich N ti 4:1 to ' -. 43 Ca it:9 b41 0 R 0 w > "4, 0 ej 121 > N I tl 1,4 Z 0 '21 0 '4 vi- 4 Ei G P4 r x rn V tl tli 'il r tx, THE AFRICAN-AM ERICAN FIRE FIGHTERS 11011 11 AND FIRE STATION #1 6.11.11KMEMIMI _ `_..1 I C OUN U!,.. _' : RES ID E NT P K 7 7'.1 --- s--r..7.4,, ),..,1 F.... fi-ro-u_s, - lo i DEPARTMENT'S REPRESENTATIVE i Mem H ers Members TO SERVE ON THE COMMISSION Of, ' a, A. A., ',, / /4 Oth er Other I OCT 1 5 2012 ' 1 il 1! C ommittee Committee TS- LA A COMMUNICATION FROM FIRE CERTIFIED Date CHIEF KELVIN L. COCHRAN, TO (0 Date _ n_ COUNCIL PRESIDENT CEASAR C. y:", L 7 ir I II ME Chair MITCHELL : rij 2 [3 F.L2 ) ' j -' Ac-ti oth711111111** I Action SUBMITTING CHIEF WILLIAM HAMER CD Ad v, Hol d (see rev. side) Fav, Adv. Hold (see rev. side) AT 0 0 > L, H El 15 3 4t > ANT z - t71 r 0 1-, til tri FA... H A' v tt,f 1-3 0 S FIR 0 Ti ra> _ r) 0 :2.4i E m, ;14 ri 0 0 xi ;,21 4t1Eii -R k til Z 0 c)4 61 F 09 ES w.") IR m th VE b.2 C o- til 7:I S li r 14 1 piwo T UE t.4 rn H tr1 0 P 8 p Committee FINAL COUNCIL ACTION 1 1 2 nd 1-1 1 st & 2nd 1 1 3rd 1 2- -1393 Date Chai r Readings Referred To 111 Consent EV Vote < Vote First Reading
12- -1393 2012 SEI 3 1 AM 10: KASIM REED MAYOR September 17, 2012 Ceasar C. Mitchell President Atlanta City Council 55 Trinity Avenue, SW Suite 2900 Atlanta, GA 30303 Dear Council President Mitchell, CITY OF ATLANTA FIRE-RESCUE DEPARTMENT 226 Peachtree St., SW Atlanta, GA 30303-3749 Phone (404) 546-7000 Fax (404) 546-8761 CONFIRMED BY OCT 1 5 2012 COUNCIL KELVIN J. COCHRAN FIRE CHIEF I would like to recommend Chief William Hamer as the Fire-Rescue Department's appointment to the Commission to Honor Atlanta's First African-American Fire Fighters and Fire Station #16. He is eager to share his knowledge, expertise, and experience with the Board. Committed to Public Safety, Kelvin L. Cochran Fire Chief
My Career As An Atlanta Firefighter 1963-1989 William Harold Hamer My career as a firefighter began as one of the first 16 firefighters hired as an initial attempt to integrate the Atlanta Fire Department. Mayor Ivan Allen had promised the Black Citizens of Atlanta, that if they voted to pass his referendum project, which had failed two previous votes, the Mayor said he would integrate the fire department. The Black Citizens voted successfully, and April 1, 1963 was the first day Black Firefighters were employed at station #16, located on Marietta Street. The new station was not completed until June of 1963. The opening day of the new fire station #16 was a classic event. All of the firefighters were in dressed uniform and assigned throughout the station to answer any questions from the Citizens. Having Black firefighters was the talk of the town. Atlanta was moving forward in race relations. During the next decade and a half, the central concept was how to improve race relations in every major event throughout the city. This is what I have always loved about Atlanta. Consequently, I was formulating my ideas and methods, as to how I would launch my personal career interest, which was to become the first Black Fire Chief. The method and concept of me becoming Fire Chief was completely unthinkable. The year was 1975, and every Black Firefighter was praying for some avenue to open up for the promotion of the first Black Lieutenant. To make it even more difficult, all promotions to Lieutenants were being made from an examination that was given in 1969, which all Black Firefighters failed. Following the 1969 examination, Chief P. 0. Williams and Assistant Chief Gibson were confident that they had a promotional system in place, which would prevent Black Firefighters from any promotions over the next 10 years.
However, Chief Williams and Assistant Chief Gibson failed to realize their promotional decisions made from 1966 to 1974 would cause major deviations in the Atlanta Fire Department. In 1966, a decision was made to promote White Firefighters to Lieutenants, and 3 months later, promote those same White Firefighters to Captains. The explanation for these promotions was the result of a union strike, and a third shift being added within the fire department. However, the most significant decision of all was made by Federal Judge Charles Moye, in the discrimination lawsuit filed by Firefighter William H. Hamer. Judge Charles Moye enjoined the Fire Department, the City of Atlanta, Georgia, and Mayor Maynard Jackson, and the Personnel Department from making any promotions, firings, and hiring of Personnel until there is a satisfactory settlement of Mr. William H. Hamer's lawsuit. Following this decision, the City of Atlanta, Georgia, witnessed several historical changes; such as city hall going from predominately White to Black in 10 months, and the Fire Department was being managed by Fire Chief A.P. Black, Chief Sprayberry and Firefighter William H. Hamer. Later, in 1985, Chief William H. Hamer was appointed Fire Chief of the Atlanta Fire Department. This appointment gave Fire Chief Hamer the honor of becoming the First Black Metropolitan Fire Chief in the United States.
RCS# 2365 10/15/12 3:16 PM Atlanta City Council 12 - C - 1391/1393/1394/1395 AND 12-C-1396 CONFIRM YEAS: 15 NAYS: 0 ABSTENTIONS: 0 NOT VOTING: 0 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT 1 Y Archibong Y Moore Y Bond Y Wan Y Martin Y Watson Y Shook Y Bottoms Y Willis Y Adrean Y Sheperd B Mitchell