Informal history of Augusta fire department fails to mention blacks

AUGUSTA - Some Augusta Richmond County commissioners are outraged by an informal history of the city&#39;s fire department that fails to mention its first black firefighter and its first black chief. <br> <br> The history, drafted by Fire Chief Al Gillespie, was part of the introduction to a strategic plan for the fire department. It was sent to each firehouse in the city this fall. <br> <br> The three-page history looks back to when the city department was organized as a volunteer force in 1805 and lists the names and tenures of the city&#39;s fire chiefs from 1886 to 1996. <br> <br> Commissioner Marion Williams was the city&#39;s first black firefighter, hired in 1968. He says the omission was deliberate. <br> <br> Ronnie Few, the city&#39;s first black fire chief, also was not mentioned in the history. <br> <br> Gillespie says he amended the history two weeks ago after one of his staff members brought the omissions to his attention. He says he was surprised commissioners thought he left the names out intentionally. <br> <br> Williams says he does not foresee any punitive action against the chief, but rather the need for a greater responsibility by the commission.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/12/186731