![\"2018-01-28-rfd\"](\"http:\/\/legeros.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018-01-28-rfd-1.jpg\")
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That’s the name of an early black firefighter in Raleigh, correct? One of the original seven, hired in 1963 and 1964?<\/p>\n
Mr. Blogger checked the Raleigh Fire Museum’s Centennial Roll Call<\/a>\u00a0and the name matched. Then checked Google, which\u00a0found\u00a0his obituary<\/a> from 2015. He passed away on November 18. The obituary lists the same address.<\/p>\n Mystery Solved<\/strong><\/p>\n Final confirmation came from the museum’s mailing list of retired and former members. The above death notice was distributed at the time of Gile’s passing, along with mention of his time in the fire department.<\/p>\n James Leon Giles (pronounced “Jiles”) was hired on May 1, 1963. He was the fourth of seven black firemen hired between February 1963 and April 1964. He served for 6.3 years and resigned with the rank of Firefighter in August 1969.<\/p>\n Interesting coincidence and notably as we’re nearly starting Black History Month.<\/p>\n Learn More\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Want to learn more about African-American heritage in the Raleigh Fire Department? Read this research document<\/a> (PDF) that tells the story of both the career members beginning in 1963, and the fifty years that companies of volunteer black firemen served the city.\u00a0<\/p>\n