Dallas Mourns City's First Black Firefighter
By Marc Ramirez
Source The Dallas Morning News
July 13 -- Kenneth Parker was well aware of his place in Dallas Fire-Rescue's history, a challenge that alternately fortified him and tore at his emotions.
The first black firefighter hired by the department, he went on to offer support to those who came after him, deflecting attention from his pioneering role but equally aware of the responsibility that came with it.
"He was literally a trailblazer for other African-Americans in the department," said Louie Bright III, department chief from 2012-16. "Some of the things he dealt with in his early years, we didn't have to — because of him. I hope young African-Americans understand that and learn about him, so that they know that we stand on his shoulders."
Parker, who retired in 1996 as a driver engineer, died Monday of heart failure. He was 70.
Parker was gregarious and opinionated, occasionally to a fault. But he was also giving of his time and encouragement, supportive of younger firefighters and always on the lookout for potential recruits.
"He would see young men at the store and start talking to them, trying to send them toward the fire department," said his wife, Cynthia, who he married in 1970. "He actually used to go out of town to get guys to come to the Dallas Fire Department. And a few did."
Born in Dallas, Parker attended Lincoln High School, where he and Cynthia became sweethearts. They married in 1970, the year after he joined the department.
"He was always like, 'Do better, do better,'" she said. "Or 'Don't fail.' He was just like that, a go-getter. I think his father instilled a lot of that in him."
Parker was one of two black employees hired by the department in November 1969, joining fire control and rescue while Milton Washington joined the fire prevention division. Fire wasn't his first choice: Parker had actually applied to be a Dallas police officer, but put in for fire duty after a friend urged him to try.
That launched a 27-year career that in its infancy was a minefield of challenges as the first black man in the firefighting ranks. At some stations to which he was assigned, he was asked to use particular drinking cups.
"It was incredible stress and pressure, but none of us realized it," said friend C.C. Williams, who retired as a chief driver after 38 years with Dallas Fire-Rescue. "Being the first, having to always be on his toes — I can imagine the things that he took those first two or three years. It was probably almost unbearable."
Williams had joined the department after hearing from someone else Parker had told that the department was hiring. He met Parker soon after and they'd chat at various neighborhood pubs, eventually both assigned to a now-defunct fire station in Oak Cliff.
Williams had been assigned there first, and one day the station captain pulled him aside and asked, "Do you know Kenneth Parker?"
Williams recalled those evenings at the bar, where Parker often had crowds gathered around him, holding court. He finally told the captain: "He's a good guy, but he talks too much."
"Well I hope you guys get along," the captain said. "He'll be working here soon."
About a week after Parker started, he and Williams were assigned to emergency run duty, and sure enough, he was a chatterbox.
"From 7 that morning until 2:30 that afternoon, if we weren't on a run or taking someone to the hospital, he was talking nonstop," Williams recalled.
"He was like, 'C.C., did you know that the earth is the third planet from the sun? And speaking of planets, did you know there's nine of them? And speaking of nine, did you know ... ' and I am not exaggerating; he would not stop."
By the end of the shift, Williams was about to pull his hair out, and he finally said something to Parker.
"Well," Parker replied, "I heard you told somebody I talked too much, and I just didn't want to disappoint."
From then on, the two were friends, socializing with their wives and several other couples until parenthood reined them in. But when they could get together, it was like no time had passed at all.
"He was incredibly intelligent and personable," Williams said. "He was a never-met-a-stranger kind of guy."
In retirement, Parker and his wife, who had no children, spent weekends relaxing on their Freestone County farm, doing trail rides and tending to horses and cows. He loved to grill and had both gas and charcoal grills, plus a smoker.
Parker is one of several department pioneers whose images are etched at Fire Station 27, which opened in 2015 in North Dallas.
"He was proud of the fact that he was the first, and he understood what he faced," said former chief Bright. "Sometimes he was not readily accepted, but he held his head high and got through that. But I think he knew that if he could stand strong, ultimately the opportunities would be greater for others behind him."
Parker is survived by his wife. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Todd and Ronald.
A visitation is planned for 3 to 9 p.m. Friday at Evergreen Funeral Home, 6449 University Hills Blvd. in Dallas.
Parker's memorial service is set for 11 a.m. Saturday at Antioch Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, 7550 South Hampton Road in Dallas, with burial to follow at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery.
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