The city of St. Petersburg recently honored its first Black firefighters, known as the Legacy Six, at a ceremony held at the Mahaffey Theater. The men, Alphonso Brown, Sr., Willie Barnes, Riley “Preston” Floyd, Eugene Curry, Stanton Singletary, and Eddie Utley, were trailblazers in their profession, serving as pioneers in a time when opportunities were not always equal and barriers still existed.

A Legacy of Service

Floyd, who retired as a Lieutenant in 2007, began his journey with St. Petersburg Fire Rescue in January 1973. He grew up in the city and graduated from Gibbs High School. The firefighter was hired by the department after working as a welder for Misener Marine. Singletary and Utley encouraged him to apply for the job.

According to Floyd, the experience was far from easy. Colleagues refused to watch TV with him, and they even discarded the dishes he used, rather than wash them. “It was rough,” Floyd explained. “Discrimination was rampant. We weren’t wanted. We had to prove ourselves.” As older generation Fire Rescue leaders and coworkers retired, he added, “things got dramatically better.”

A Lasting Impact

St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch attended and spoke at the Monday celebration, stating that the Legacy Six’s influence extends beyond Fire Rescue. They have paved the way for other Black public servants in the community. “We know that we stand on the shoulders of giants,” he said. “When we all understand our common history, we can build a stronger future together, and that’s why inclusivity is important for the City of St. Petersburg.”

City and Fire Rescue leaders officially dedicated a Legacy Six plaque at the gathering, which will be permanently displayed at the department’s headquarters. Additionally, Boca Ciega High School graduate Antonio Brown was honored with the Legacy Six Scholarship Award, which will help him pursue a career as a firefighter/paramedic and a registered nurse.

Original reporting: St. Pete Catalyst — read the source article.