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
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.
Thursday, February 11, 2021