The youngest Freedom Riders participant and staunch advocate for African American rights now has a new title -- honorary Atlanta fire chief.
Person has always admired firefighters as he grew up a few blocks away from the Fire Station No. 6 in the Sweet Auburn neighborhood.
“I used to marvel at how spotless they kept the place and how they would go out and they come back in, and they would smell of smoke. But the thing is, they were doing a job that was so necessary,” he told ANF.
Person says becoming a firefighter was an “impossible dream” because of his skin color.
Last week, his lifelong ambition soared to new heights when the Atlanta Fire Department named him honorary chief.
“I never thought it. I never thought... I’m glad I didn’t tear up because I’m a very emotional person,” he said adding that people should never give up on their dreams.