Honoring Black Pioneers

Thanks to Larry Lee, Jr. and others, black pioneers will be honored at the Fifth Annual history makers and awards banquet, Friday, February 24, 2012. at the Pelican Yacht Club in Fort Pierce.

St. Lucie's first black firefighter, once reviled by many, now honored

By Nicole Rodriguez

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

FORT PIERCE — Robert Lewis Sr., 69, remembers a tumultuous time in St. Lucie County in the 1960s when it was too dangerous for African Americans to walk downtown streets at night or fish alone on a pier.

Lewis also recalled how racial tension on the Treasure Coast was amplified in 1972 when he became the first black man hired by the county's fire department after a six-year battle for the job, a battle that garnered media attention.

"It was pretty rough in the beginning. Some of the men in the department who didn't want me there made it known by pulling pranks and telling little lies to get me fired," said Lewis, who spent 26 years with the department, including 13 years as a lieutenant. "We had a long, hard struggle getting something close to equality."

Lewis and 10 other local black pioneers also will be honored Friday night — including the county's first African American female firefighter, county administrator, black woman FM radio station owner and NASA administration executive — during the fifth annual Black History Makers Awards Ceremony at the Pelican Yacht Club.

Lewis said he is humbled to be in such great company.

"It's a great privilege. This doesn't come around all the time. It's one of the best things that's happened to me," said Lewis who added another special moment occurred in 1999 when St. Lucie County dedicated and named fire station 15 in his honor. "It's quite an honor to be recognized with this class of people. I'm overjoyed."

As African Americans began to gain civil rights, Lewis said he and his fellow firefighters became a tight-knit family. Lewis recalled some high points throughout his extensive career, including the day he and his team resuscitated a clinically dead man in a tomato field. The father of four and grandfather of 16, who's been married to his wife, Mary Elizabeth for 43 years, said he also witnessed miracles during emergency calls.

"During my reign as an EMT, I had the chance to deliver three babies in their homes," said the Virginia native and Air Force veteran who currently works for the City of Fort Pierce as a community transit bus driver, a position he's held for nine years. "One of the women even named their baby after me."

Honoring pioneers

Rev. Dr. Howard D. Coleman, Sr., community activist

Faye W. Outlaw, first African American county administrator

Mary Helen Butler, first African American department chair of cosmetology at Indian River State College

Alice Hoskins Lee, first African American woman FM radio station owner

Gloria J. Watkins Johnson, first African American finance director for Fort Pierce

Robert Earl Lewis Sr., first African American firefighter in county

Major Lillie R. Miller, first African American woman major and director of the St. Lucie County Jail

Remer Clifton Prince, first African American NASA executive

LaToya Young, First African American woman firefighter in county

Posthumous award recipients:

Frances Kay Sweet, community activist for education of black students

Leroy C. Floyd Sr., founder of Lincoln Junior College and first African American dean at Indian River State College

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2012/feb/22/st-lucies-first-black-firefighter-once-reviled/?print=1