Robert Thomas played a role in encouraging more people of color to join the FDNY.
The Thomas family is believed to be one of the largest legacy families of color on the force. Crystal Cranmore has the story.A legacy FDNY firefighter took his final ride with his Brooklyn firehouse after 40 years on the job.
Throughout his career, 65-year-old Robert Thomas broke barriers and turned his job into a family affair.On Monday, his journey with the New York City Fire Department 40 plus years in the making came to an end after reaching the mandatory retirement age. He's leaving a mark in more ways than one with three adult sons following in his footsteps as members of the FDNY."Single memory was having my boys on the back step," Robert Thomas said. "The things we did that entire day priceless."Now about 9% of the FDNY is made up of Black men and women ready to serve their communities.
The longtime firefighter has played a role in encouraging more people of color to join the department."Every parent should have a goal of having their kid on a job like this to help make them the person they need to be able to be," Robert Thomas said. Thomas sons didn't always want to become firefighters. Stephen Thomas said the turning point for him was seeing his father respond to the call of duty on 9-11.As Robert starts his next chapter his sons know they have big shoes to fill.Robert will now turn his attention to his community program called Smart Choice Parent, which helps underserved parents get access to resources to better care for their children.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
FDNY Firefighter Robert Thomas retires after 40 years, but leaves a powerful legacy in the service: His three sonsFirefighter Robert Thomas is leaving us in good hands, though: His three sons will carry on the tradition - one of the FDNY's largest Black legacy families. VMurdockTV reports.
Read more »
2 children killed in Queens fire sparked by e-bike: FDNYTwo children were killed in a fire in Queens on Monday afternoon that officials say was started by an e-bike.
Read more »
FDNY: Child, young adult dead in Queens house fire sparked by lithium-ion batteryLIVE NOW: FDNY officials are holding a briefing after they say a child and young adult were killed in a Queens house fire. Watch live:
Read more »
The impactful legacy of Tony Chapman’s 45-year coaching career at Holy Ghost PrepThe former Holy Ghost Prep boys' basketball coach announced his retirement in March. He finished with 928 wins, becoming the sixth Pennsylvania high school boys’ basketball coach to reach 900.
Read more »
Opinion | The legacy of the Uvalde school massacre is that nothing changes'I just don’t know how I’m going to get some of these people to listen,' Texas state Sen. Roland Gutierrez said.
Read more »