First African American Fire Commissioner In Philadelphia Laid To Rest
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Funeral services were held Thursday morning for a history making Philadelphia fire official.
Former Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Harold Hairston was laid to rest at New Covenant Church of Philadelphia on Germantown Avenue in West Mt. Airy. Hairston, the first African American to lead the Philadelphia Fire Department, died on November 1st at the age of 76.
Mayor Jim Kenney, City Councilman Kenyatta Johnson, and former Philadelphia Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson were among those who paid their respects.
Current city Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel described Hairston as an "icon" in remarks to those in attendance. Thiel said he would read about Hairston in magazines when he began his career, and expressed gratitude for Hairston taking the time to call him after he became fire commissioner earlier this year.
Hairston's 40 year career in the department started in 1964. He rose through the ranks and Mayor Ed Rendell appointed him to be the fire commissioner in 1992.
"He didn't let people stop him," explained Hairston's successor Lloyd Ayers. "He was tenacious. People understood he meant business."
Ayers said Hairston led the way when it came to fire prevention.
"Fire deaths started going down under his administration. We were able to carry those things on because of the programs and things he implemented," he said.
Fire Captain Clifford Gilliam smiled when recalling his former boss.
"He would talk to you and you knew you left there with a piece of wisdom, whether it was about firefighting, you know life in general," Gilliam said. "I can recall many a conversationwith Commissioner Hairston. At the end of the day, sometimes it left you scratching your head."
After Hairston retired in 2004 the next two people to lead the department were also African-American. Ayers said he was comforted when his former boss offered a simple message to him before he took over.
"He handed the keys over and said, "You're gonna be alright."
Ayers retired in 2014 and his successor, Derrick Sawyer, saw first hand that Hairston's impact stretched beyond the city.
"I was at the Metro Chiefs meeting last year and I still had people coming up, asking me how he was doing and telling me about how he used to mentor them,"
Sawyer said. "He would still do what was the right thing and not get into the politics of things. So, that's one thing I took from him going forward - maintain your core values, what your beliefs are, and hold true to them."
