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Black FF's given posthumous membership
ADAMSTOWN, Md. (AP) - Three black men asked to resign from the
Carroll Manor Fire Co. nearly 50 years ago because of their race
are now honorary members.
George Bowins, Royal Lawson Sr. and Roger Whalen were reinstated
as members during the company's golden anniversary celebration on
Sunday.
"We talked about the good and the bad from when the company was
getting organized. Everyone just decided we wanted to make things
right," Fire Chief Ed Johnson said after the ceremony.
Bowins' and Lawson's children accepted plaques on behalf of
their fathers, as an audience of about 200 gave a standing ovation.
Whalen's descendants were unable to attend the ceremony.
Johnson said he learned last year how the three had been treated
as he and others read through the fire company's minutes dating
back to its early meetings in October 1953.
At the time, firefighters were required to be property owners
and 18 to 65 years old, all requirements that the three black men
met, Johnson said.
But in July 1954, the Frederick County Firemen's Association
said that all members must be white. And so, the three black
members of the Carroll Manor Fire Co. were asked to resign. Austin
Renn, a white member of the fire company, resigned in protest.
Ironically, the resignations occurred two months after the U.S.
Supreme Court struck down public school segregation in the landmark
Brown vs. Board of Education case.
At Sunday's ceremony, Royal Lawson Jr. accepted the membership
plaque on behalf of his father, and Rae Bowins-Woods attended in
honor of her father.
"I'm sure my father would have been proud and honored by this
plaque, and I'm sure he would have been a great asset to this
firehouse," Bowins-Woods said after the ceremony. "It's better
late than never."
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Carroll Manor Fire Co. nearly 50 years ago because of their race
are now honorary members.
George Bowins, Royal Lawson Sr. and Roger Whalen were reinstated
as members during the company's golden anniversary celebration on
Sunday.
"We talked about the good and the bad from when the company was
getting organized. Everyone just decided we wanted to make things
right," Fire Chief Ed Johnson said after the ceremony.
Bowins' and Lawson's children accepted plaques on behalf of
their fathers, as an audience of about 200 gave a standing ovation.
Whalen's descendants were unable to attend the ceremony.
Johnson said he learned last year how the three had been treated
as he and others read through the fire company's minutes dating
back to its early meetings in October 1953.
At the time, firefighters were required to be property owners
and 18 to 65 years old, all requirements that the three black men
met, Johnson said.
But in July 1954, the Frederick County Firemen's Association
said that all members must be white. And so, the three black
members of the Carroll Manor Fire Co. were asked to resign. Austin
Renn, a white member of the fire company, resigned in protest.
Ironically, the resignations occurred two months after the U.S.
Supreme Court struck down public school segregation in the landmark
Brown vs. Board of Education case.
At Sunday's ceremony, Royal Lawson Jr. accepted the membership
plaque on behalf of his father, and Rae Bowins-Woods attended in
honor of her father.
"I'm sure my father would have been proud and honored by this
plaque, and I'm sure he would have been a great asset to this
firehouse," Bowins-Woods said after the ceremony. "It's better
late than never."
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)