History of The Firebird Society of GREATER NEW HAVEN, INC.
The Firebird Society of New Haven Incorporated is an organization of Black and Hispanic Firefighters organized on March 22, 1971, which makes the society over 50 years old.
On that date, at the home of Firefighter Earl D. Geyer, Sr. New Haven's First Black Firefighter James Curry Jr., Deceased, George Sweeny, Donald Holess, Donald Wilson, Marion Robinson, Deceased Charles Holnes, Martin Goodson, Jimmy Laboone, Charles Goodson, Tim Watkins Jr., and Clarence Smith decided to patern the organization after already established Hartford Phoenix Society. George Sweeney, First black firefighter to be assigned to a firehouse.
The name "Firebird" exists because just as the Phoenix, the Firebirds would rise from the ashes to assit our Black Brethren.
In April 1971, the Society elected its First Officers and drafted their By-Laws and Constitution, the officers were FIREFIGHTER Donald Wilson President, FIREFIGHTER Tim Watkins Jr., Vice Presidents, Now Retired as a Lieutenant, and FIREFIGHTER Earl D. Geyer Sr. Secretary-Treasured Retired as Captin.
In the same year, the Society sought affiliation with the Association of Black Professional Firefighters while hosting the international First Regional Conference in January 1972. The Firebird Society was welcomed into I.A.B.P.F.F. which now constitutes approximately 4,000 members.
In August 1972 firefighter George Sweeney was elected president and the membership increased to sixteen. After repeated request and meeting with the Mayor and Board of Fire Commissioners, regarding the lo ratio (16 out of 500) in the department, the Firebirds instituted a Class Action Suit Charging discrimination in the hiring and promotions process. At the point of litigation, the lawsuit was supported by the Sliver Shields, State Representative Bruce Morris, and John Artis Yopp.
On october 5, 1973, U.S. District Court Federal Judge Robert C. Zampano issued a temporary restraining order, stoppy all hiring and promotions thereby keeping all vacancies open. On December 3, 1973, Judge Zampano issued an order in favor of the Firebirds, which led to the increase of minority firefighters in the New Haven Fire Service.
The highlight of the Court Decision was the next 24 Positions Filled, 16 would be minorities. It further stated that folowing the 16 men being hired, one for one ration hiring would be instituted. Meaning that for each Non-Minority hired, a minority was hired until there are 75 minority firefighters in the "private ranks".
In this court decision, which found itself in the legal journals, nationally interprets a minority as a "person of Black or Hispanic origin". By September 1974, in spite of court appeals and countersuits, senven Black Firefighters passed the Lieutenant exams and were promoted to the rank of lieutenant.
During the months that followed the court decisions, a city wide recruitment drive was held, and Earl Geyer emerged as Recruiting Officer for the city Fire Department. He received minimum aid from the city, thus the Firebirds were at hand to make the first city wide Recruitment Drive a success. During the second Recruitment Drive the Firebirds conducted their own minority recruitment (providing assistance to applicants as needed), not to compete with the city but to aid the city in attaining minority applicantsthat were so "few" to find in the past.
August 1982 saw the Firebird Society become part of Department history. During the promotional ceremony on August 31, 1982 N.H.F.D promoted Earl Geyer to the rank of Captain, the first Black to achieve that Civil Service Rank. Also on the same day, fice Black Lieutenants ere made at one time, which was a first and made history.
There are now approximatley 147 minority firefighters within the new Haven Fire Service, which makes up about one third of of the current rank and file. There are minority representatives at the level of Administration,in the Chiefs office, EMS services, in the Fire Marshal's office, as well as in Fire Suppression (pump operator, truck drivers, and company officers.)
The Firebird Society isnot only involved in recruitment and upward mobility within the Department but they also commit themselves to the community, the Society annually donates to the Firebird juniors, a Group of yougsters in the Elm Haven area, they alsoprovide a scholarship, for a deserving student, from Wilbur Cross, Hillhouse, and Career High Schools who plan to attend college. The members participate in the recruitment of new firefighter cadets, and assits in their training for exams, along with affiliatedd programs.
In 1982, the Firebirds added to their ranks the first black female firefighter in the history of New Haven Department of Fire Service, Ms. Sheryl Broadnax. Ms. Broadnax was a qualified pump operator and eventually went on to rise to the level of Lieutenant & Drillmaster, which was another first for the New Haven Fire Department. She is the first black female firefighter so honored. Drillmaster Broadnax is currently enjoying her retirement from the New Haven Department of Fire Service.
On that date, at the home of Firefighter Earl D. Geyer, Sr. New Haven's First Black Firefighter James Curry Jr., Deceased, George Sweeny, Donald Holess, Donald Wilson, Marion Robinson, Deceased Charles Holnes, Martin Goodson, Jimmy Laboone, Charles Goodson, Tim Watkins Jr., and Clarence Smith decided to patern the organization after already established Hartford Phoenix Society. George Sweeney, First black firefighter to be assigned to a firehouse.
The name "Firebird" exists because just as the Phoenix, the Firebirds would rise from the ashes to assit our Black Brethren.
In April 1971, the Society elected its First Officers and drafted their By-Laws and Constitution, the officers were FIREFIGHTER Donald Wilson President, FIREFIGHTER Tim Watkins Jr., Vice Presidents, Now Retired as a Lieutenant, and FIREFIGHTER Earl D. Geyer Sr. Secretary-Treasured Retired as Captin.
In the same year, the Society sought affiliation with the Association of Black Professional Firefighters while hosting the international First Regional Conference in January 1972. The Firebird Society was welcomed into I.A.B.P.F.F. which now constitutes approximately 4,000 members.
In August 1972 firefighter George Sweeney was elected president and the membership increased to sixteen. After repeated request and meeting with the Mayor and Board of Fire Commissioners, regarding the lo ratio (16 out of 500) in the department, the Firebirds instituted a Class Action Suit Charging discrimination in the hiring and promotions process. At the point of litigation, the lawsuit was supported by the Sliver Shields, State Representative Bruce Morris, and John Artis Yopp.
On october 5, 1973, U.S. District Court Federal Judge Robert C. Zampano issued a temporary restraining order, stoppy all hiring and promotions thereby keeping all vacancies open. On December 3, 1973, Judge Zampano issued an order in favor of the Firebirds, which led to the increase of minority firefighters in the New Haven Fire Service.
The highlight of the Court Decision was the next 24 Positions Filled, 16 would be minorities. It further stated that folowing the 16 men being hired, one for one ration hiring would be instituted. Meaning that for each Non-Minority hired, a minority was hired until there are 75 minority firefighters in the "private ranks".
In this court decision, which found itself in the legal journals, nationally interprets a minority as a "person of Black or Hispanic origin". By September 1974, in spite of court appeals and countersuits, senven Black Firefighters passed the Lieutenant exams and were promoted to the rank of lieutenant.
During the months that followed the court decisions, a city wide recruitment drive was held, and Earl Geyer emerged as Recruiting Officer for the city Fire Department. He received minimum aid from the city, thus the Firebirds were at hand to make the first city wide Recruitment Drive a success. During the second Recruitment Drive the Firebirds conducted their own minority recruitment (providing assistance to applicants as needed), not to compete with the city but to aid the city in attaining minority applicantsthat were so "few" to find in the past.
August 1982 saw the Firebird Society become part of Department history. During the promotional ceremony on August 31, 1982 N.H.F.D promoted Earl Geyer to the rank of Captain, the first Black to achieve that Civil Service Rank. Also on the same day, fice Black Lieutenants ere made at one time, which was a first and made history.
There are now approximatley 147 minority firefighters within the new Haven Fire Service, which makes up about one third of of the current rank and file. There are minority representatives at the level of Administration,in the Chiefs office, EMS services, in the Fire Marshal's office, as well as in Fire Suppression (pump operator, truck drivers, and company officers.)
The Firebird Society isnot only involved in recruitment and upward mobility within the Department but they also commit themselves to the community, the Society annually donates to the Firebird juniors, a Group of yougsters in the Elm Haven area, they alsoprovide a scholarship, for a deserving student, from Wilbur Cross, Hillhouse, and Career High Schools who plan to attend college. The members participate in the recruitment of new firefighter cadets, and assits in their training for exams, along with affiliatedd programs.
In 1982, the Firebirds added to their ranks the first black female firefighter in the history of New Haven Department of Fire Service, Ms. Sheryl Broadnax. Ms. Broadnax was a qualified pump operator and eventually went on to rise to the level of Lieutenant & Drillmaster, which was another first for the New Haven Fire Department. She is the first black female firefighter so honored. Drillmaster Broadnax is currently enjoying her retirement from the New Haven Department of Fire Service.
