Lawton Fire Department

Jared Williams

Jared Williams

Lawton names Williams its new fire chief

Eric Swanson
Thursday, January 27, 2022
LAWTON – A 22-year veteran of the Lawton Fire Department has been tapped to lead the department.  Elgin native Jared Williams was named the new fire chief Tuesday, Lawton City Manager Michael Cleghorn’s office announced.
In an effort to promote cultural diversity and increase fire recruitment for Lawton Fire Department, several current and retired Lawton firefighters met at the City Hall last week. From left are Corporal Shawn Adkinson, retired Assistant Fire Marshal Raymond Gates, Sergeant Cobey Warren, Corporal Antonio Ervin, Corporal Patrick Jackson and Corporal Anthony Hall

In an effort to promote cultural diversity and increase fire recruitment for Lawton Fire Department, several current and retired Lawton firefighters met at the City Hall last week. From left are Corporal Shawn Adkinson, retired Assistant Fire Marshal Raymond Gates, Sergeant Cobey Warren, Corporal Antonio Ervin, Corporal Patrick Jackson and Corporal Anthony Hall

Lawton’s first Black firefighter looks back on his hiring

Tim Farley
Thursday, February 11, 2021
LAWTON – Raymond L. Gates made history on Sept. 1, 1971, when he became the first Black firefighter on Lawton’s Fire Department. Looking back on his hiring 50 years later, Gates didn’t talk that much about discrimination, racial slurs or misconduct by his white counterparts.
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