Earl Gage Jr.

Earl Gage Jr. ( 1927 – July 30, 2017) was an American firefighter. He was the first Black firefighter in San Francisco, California. He served as the only Black firefighter for 12 years. During his 28-year career, Gage promoted efforts to increase racial diversity.

Biography

Early life

Gage was born in 1926 in Beaumont, Texas.

Gage experienced racism in his career, especially during the twelve years in which he was the only Black firefighter. In the fire station bunks, firefighters soiled his mattress and threw it away. Crews were assigned rotating beds regularly, and some would refuse to sleep on a mattress used prior by Gage. As a result, Gage had his own mattress that he transported himself to the different stations.

Gage retired, after 28 years, in 1983. Despite his retirement, in 1987 he was named in a consent decree to increase diversity, including both racially and by gender, in the fire department. The service was held at the Third Baptist Church in San Francisco. At the unveiling, Mayor London Breed stated that Gage "paved the way" for Black leaders in San Francisco, such as the first Black fire chief, Robert Demmons, the first Black mayor, Willie Brown Jr., and London Breed herself, the first Black woman mayor.

Personal life In 1952, he married Blondell Wright, whom he converted to Catholicism to wed.