Richmond City Council /
News Release
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Friday,
7 June 2019
Councilwoman Trammell to hold a Richmond
Honorary Street Naming Designation Unveiling Ceremony for former Richmond Fire
Chief Ronald C. Lewis
WHAT Richmond,
Virginia -
The Honorable Reva M. Trammell, Councilwoman, Richmond City Council, Richmond
Southside 8th Voter District, will hold a Richmond Honorary Street Naming Designation
Unveiling Ceremony commemorating the designation of Birdwood Road in Richmond, Virginia,
on behalf of former Richmond Fire Chief Ronald C. Lewis.
The
event program will include Fire Chief Melvin D. Carter, Richmond Department of
Fire and Emergency Services.
This
honorary street naming designation was established by Richmond
City Council Ordinance #2019-078
on March 25, 2019.
Councilwoman
Trammell invites all Richmond Southside 8th Voter District residents to attend.
WHEN Saturday, June 15, 2019
10:00
- 10:30 a.m.
WHERE Intersection of Birdwood Road and
Bathgate Road
in Richmond's Brookbury
Neighborhood
Richmond,
Virginia
CONTACT For more
information, please contact: Councilwoman Reva Trammell,
at 804.240.5050 (mobile), 804.233.7382 (home), or reva.trammell@richmondgov.com (email).
Background
Serving
in the historic role as Richmond's first black fire chief for the Richmond
Department of Fire and Emergency Services, from 1978-1995, Chief Lewis began
his career in the fire service in 1956 with the Philadelphia Fire Department,
where he served many years prior to his celebrated 17 year tenure in Richmond.
Promoting African American employment and
relations in the fire service, Chief Lewis was a founding member of the
International Association of Black Professional Firefighters and served as its
Northeast Regional Vice President and its Affirmative Action Officer.
As further testament to his achievements,
Chief Lewis earned many awards, accolades, and honors over the years, which
included the Richmond NAACP Freedom Award and being named the 1991 Virginia
Fire Services Board - Equal Employment Opportunity Person of the Year.
During his tour of duty in Richmond, Chief
Lewis helped establish and support programs such as: fire safety education;
smoke detector giveaways; firefighter career development; river, dive, and
rescue team; and, rebuilding 25 fire stations and department facilities.
Chief Lewis was a trailblazer and an
extraordinary and greatly valued member of the Richmond Department of Fire and
Emergency Services. His lifetime of dedication and service as a
member of the fire service community demonstrates a legacy of great honor and
respect.
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