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St. Louis Front Page presents St. Louis CitySide, an overview of the City Government of Saint Louis. From time to time, we will take an indepth look at many of the projects in which the city is involved and how these projects will affect residents and visitors.
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A Day to Remember
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
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(L. to R.) St. Louis Fire Chief Sherman George presented Chief Preston L. Bouie (retired) with a plaque honoring his 34 years and 1 month of service.
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St. Louis Fire Department Honors Its First African-American Chief Officer and Fire Marshall
by Bob Moore, SLFP.com
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), February 22, 2006 - The St. Louis Fire Department honored its first African-American Chief Officer and Fire Marshal Preston Bouie with a special ceremony, February 22, at the department's headquarters at Jefferson and Cass.
In an interview following the presentations, Chief Bouie proudly noted that when he was promoted in 1976, he became the first black Battalion Chief in the 109 year-history of the St. Louis Fire Department. He went on to become the first black Deputy Chief in 1978. Later on he became the first black Assistant Chief in 1981.
"I'm retired now, stated Chief Bouie. "At that time, we had a thing in the Department, that when you reached age 60, there was pressure to go. So in 1982, I decided to hang it up and leave."
In response to a question regarding the racial struggles in St. Louis during that time, Chief Bouie stated, "Sometimes good things come in strange packaging. You don't recognize it as such until you take the wrapping off. When I was promoted to Captain back in 1963 on St. Patrick's Day, everyone was wondering where they were going to send me because there were only two (fire) houses that were predominately black."
As it turned out, Chief Robert Olson had a special place for Bouie. He was sent from the fire house at Whittier and Kennerly to South St. Louis. "I was sent to the 5000 block of South Kingshighway as the first black Captain over a white engine house. It was kind of hard," he said quietly.
"But I stayed down there thirteen years," Chief Bouie stated. "Wherever they sent me, I worked. That was my philosophy. Everytime I went to another house or another section of the city, it was because I was promoted."
Chief Bouie related that during his career in the St. Louis Fire Department, he worked nine years in the north section of the city as a Battalion Chief, and then moved downtown as the Deputy Chief. "When I became Assistant Chief, I worked at City Hall," stated Chief Bouie. "I never asked for anything. But whatever they presented me with, I just sucked it in and tucked it up," he stated proudly.
See stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/fire/history/africanamerican.html for more information on African-American History in the St. Louis Fire Department.
(L. to R.) Deputy Chief Stanley Newsome (retired), Deputy Chief/Fire Marshal George Horne (retired), Fire Chief Sherman George, Assistant Fire Chief Preston L. Bouie (retired), Deputy Chief/Fire Marshal Charles Coyle.
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