The accomplishments of Joe J. Douglas Jr. — who shattered racial barriers by becoming Topeka’s first African-American fire chief — were “extremely monumental” to others who looked like him, former Topeka Fire Chief Greg Bailey said Wednesday.
“He represented hope. He represented faith. And he represented strength, not only in his physical stature but also in his spirit,” Bailey said of Douglas, who died at age 91 Monday at a Topeka hospital.
Douglas and his wife, Nathalia Douglas, had celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on Jan. 29, according to obituary information provided to The Capital-Journal.
Services will be at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Asbury-Mount Olive United Methodist Church, 1196 S.W. Buchanan. Joe Douglas joined the Topeka Fire Department in October 1950, rose through the ranks and was appointed fire chief in August 1983 by then-Mayor Doug Wright, according to Topeka Capital-Journal archives. He retired as chief in December 1989.