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Veteran's Affairs Plus discusses the issues that veterans in Las Vegas deal with on a daily basis. Your host, David L. Washington connects listeners with relevant community resources and information that they need to help veterans or themselves.
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You're listening to locally produced programming created in Hey, you envy studios on public radio K you envy 91.5 You're listening
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to special programming sponsored by making moves life coaching services, the content of Veterans Affairs plus does not reflect the views or opinions of public radio K, u and v, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, or the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education.
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good morning, Las Vegas. This is Veterans Affairs plus on many 1.5, jazz and more. I'm here with my engineer, producer, director, Mr. West, keeping me on track. Pleased to be back here I'm going to talk about since this is Black History Month, I got a number of individuals, these are Black Fire Service, people who have made historical efforts with respect to the fire service. They are now ancestors and I know that we will not forget the work that they did within our service. So I'm going to call off a number of names. And you may or may not know some of these folks, but these are my fire service colleagues and some of them are actually veterans, or were veterans when they were alive and served our country. I'm going to start off and again, these are ancestors now folks who have done tremendous work for the fire service, starting out with a well known figure in the fire service. Career professional area, Dr. Carl Holmes. And I don't know if folks remember Danny Williams out of Philadelphia. He was one of the assistant chiefs there and also an EDI instructor. Chief, Karla blue. She was a curriculum chair for the Carl Holmes executive development institute. She passed away a couple years back in a fatal car accident. Nathan queens out of Washington DC Nathan was a great guy. He did all the political lobbying for the ABP FF back in the day, Captain Leroy Norwood, who put together our logistics department for the Carl Holmes executive development institute, Chief Sherman carthon, some known as Jimmy, a great guy who was instrumental in ensuring that our graduation ceremonies had a great emcee, which was him and he did a super job over the years. Chief Joe Jones out of St. Louis, good brother who did a lot of work for for that department. Chief James Dixon out of Los Angeles County Fire Department, one of the I call them the posse members of Chief Herschel Clady, which we'll talk some detail about today. Chief Bobby Dixon, out of Milpitas chief, Johnnie crane also out of Milpitas. They were again both they we call them The Blues Brothers. They were EDI instructors back in the day. And then are one of the key individuals to the Carl Holmes executive development is to was Captain Ron Reagan out of Chicago Fire. He did so much for our organization and he is still missed, because he did our website did our newsletter and a number of other things to keep the Institute on track. Chief, Nick Russell, another great guy who did a lot of work for EDI. He ran the operations. He was the Chief of Operations for our institute, which is housed at Dillard University and it's a one week summer program in New Orleans, kept the soundsmith locally here with the Clark County Fire Department did a tremendous amount of work in terms of preparing people to to enter the fire service along with another Captain Dave Crossman. Both he and Sam did a lot of work with entry level personnel. Captain Burgas Porter fire investigator and one of the authors of the retirees regional gathering that we have and have had for the last five years. He had left Las Vegas and we're living with his wife If Metiria in Detroit, Michigan, Captain Theo Adams, Thiele was an officer. During my tenure as fire chief and Theo got hurt, he became a quadriplegic from an accident that they had and his mom really took care of him. He in fact, he live many, many years beyond what they say, was the lifespan of a paraplegic firefighter Vinnie Scott, and activists from day one entering the fire service with Clark County Fire. A great guy who was always inspirational and pushing others to do the very best that they can. As we pursue higher level positions within the fire service, Jesse Scott. Justice guy was a gentleman who did a lot of work for the organization, he served as president as well. For the Clark County black Firefighters Association. One of my local mentors Captain Monroe Williams, he, he taught me a lot of things about the fire service, and truly miss to this day, James Walker firefighter he was, along with Monroe waves to the first black firefighters as we talk about again, Black History Month, they were the first to for the city of Las Vegas, in 1963. Firefighter Dudley, trusty Bynoe. I'll speak a lot more in detail about him in our next segment. And then we have chief Herschel Clady. Once again, those latter two I will speak a lot more about in the next two segments of the show today the Veterans Affairs plus on 91.5 Jazz and more. A couple of additional folks we missed chief ad bail. He was one of the early EDI instructors, Chief Roy jerrells. Out of Orlando, Florida, again, very instrumental in the work that was done at EDI. So again, this, these are individuals that I know that did tremendous work. And again, you may not know some of these folks, but I thought it was something that needed to be done to honor them, if only by name and, and brief mention of some of the things that they accomplished. Winston minor, he was a former fire chief in the city of Atlanta did tremendous work there. And firefighter paramedic, Crystal golden. She died many years back she had a little girl I would imagine I love to see her daughter, who she's a young woman. I would. I am absolutely certain to that today. Because that was many years ago, as I mentioned that crystal passed away. So once again, I just wanted to say a few words about these folks who did work to ensure that there was a place in this society particularly in the fire service industry for people of color women as well, they did work to ensure that that occurred. So once again, this is vessels affairs plus on 91.5, jazz and more. And we have another segment that I'll go into, into some detail about deadly trustee battle. Good morning.
Unknown Speaker 8:32
Good morning. Once again, this is Veterans Affairs plus on 91.5 Jazz and more. We have our guest today. The former Assemblyman Mr. Winslow P. Williams, the president of the Martin Luther King committee, and I asked for the one of you've come back and just give us a brief update and give us just an indication of how things go during the king week that was that occurred as we know, just a few weeks ago for the window. Yes, sir. I want you to give us a little update, you know, how did the parade go in general?
Unknown Speaker 9:10
The parade? Well, well, you know, we we had some inclement weather, but it was fine. This was our 41st annual MLK parade. And this year, for the first time we were the first grade to be broadcast live on network TV, our local chapter 13 broadcast it. And the good thing about that because the weather was a little bit shaky at at different times, right. We had a chance to couldn't get out, still watching at home on their own television. Right. But it was doing really well. Excellent. We had a we had four groups from out of the country. And we had we had about seven or eight groups from out of state. It was a nice parade. Excellent, excellent.
Unknown Speaker 9:59
So how many entries did you have? Overall, you call?
Unknown Speaker 10:04
We had 126. We've tried to keep it at 100. Entries. Because that takes that takes us about four hours an hour for this parade. Unlike other parades in town, it's a birthday celebration is celebrates Dr. King's birthday. So people tend to celebrate more in this parade. But it was great.
Unknown Speaker 10:28
Excellent. Now I know, each year you have multiple categories in which you often give trophies or plaques to them. Do you recall some of those categories? And in who won what?
Unknown Speaker 10:46
Well, this year, we didn't judge because you didn't know some of them had a chance to perform and some didn't. So as Dr. Owner, Dr. King's close is injustice anywhere is a threat to justice, everywhere. So we figured that to judge anyone would be unfair to everyone. So we didn't judge any categories at all. Well,
Unknown Speaker 11:09
you know what, that's interesting. And, and it makes so much sense. Because, you know, if everybody don't get to, to have the same opportunity, what's the point in? I guess, taking someone to say, you know, what, even though you didn't get an opportunity, you know, okay, so what? No, you can't do that. So that was a good day, what did we call it an audible, you just had to make a change in the middle of the stream and do what you got to do? Excellent. We
Unknown Speaker 11:35
always remind people that even though we judge some categories, some people compete, but the overall objective of the parade is to celebrate Martin Luther King's birthday, right. So it's more about him than the group's.
Unknown Speaker 11:48
Right, right. So what's the status and what's going on with those two young folks that you had as, and I'm just very interested, because it was just so intriguing to me to find out through you how smart they were, it's just like bed, six, and seven, eight years old. Six
Unknown Speaker 12:06
or seven years old, we had one young man, Justin, he has his own nonprofit. And he's done a lot of great work in the community. One of the more recent projects that he's had, was the, to help the migrants. In our country, as a matter of fact, he went to Poland, himself, and opened a library in Poland. And he's feeding those people in Poland relatives who live here in Nevada. He's, he's providing money and food for them. So I mean, it's great, because we focus so much, and we should honor the pioneers who have been around in Las Vegas who have done great things such as yourself, you're one of our former grand marshals. But we also have to look at building our future. I agree. And as I mentioned to you before, we have a lot of participation from the military community, right. Here before last, because of COVID, schools were close. And we didn't have any of the ROTC in the parade. And it really made a big difference. So we were so glad to have them out, again, some of the ROTC and just had up to 400 kids in it. And that's a beautiful thing, because we celebrate everybody, we celebrate Veterans, we celebrate seniors, we celebrate the the soldiers who are less fortunate than us and
Unknown Speaker 13:34
our whole community. Absolutely. So when the once again, you also talked about, you have this, the Tick, tick conference or whatever. Pardon me for butchering what the title is, but please tell our audience about that, again, because I think it's important that work that you do in regards. We
Unknown Speaker 13:57
have our technology summit that's held at City Hall, we have students who are venturing into technology careers, and those who are not just who are just interested, we have children who participate from around the world. We have some students here from England, we have some from China, and other countries and those who who do not attend in person attend virtually. And then we have students from around the United States. And I'm so pleased that our listeners to tell them that they that you yourself helped us to bring some really, really children who were who really couldn't make it who was somewhat unfortunate in their travels and in their finances to come to Las Vegas last year, and you gave us some help with that. And this year, we had double the amount. So we use the resources that we received from you and others to do a project. So this year, we didn't have to come to you. We've built enough that we provide those opportunities for children around the world. If
Unknown Speaker 15:09
I might, I want to go back to what you did with respect to some children from your own community, kind of refresh the memory. In the minds of our listening audience, there was some young people you brought into town that otherwise wouldn't have had that opportunity. I just think it's important to share that again. Yeah,
Unknown Speaker 15:28
we just mentioned mentioned those, as I mentioned, we had a lot of help from people such as yourself, who, who are mindful enough to do that, we received a grant from the United States Department of Labor to do the technology nationwide. And we kind of said, hey, you know, let's start in my hometown, which is one of the poorest one of the poorest parishes and communities in the United States. And I said, we can do it there, we can do it everywhere. So we brought those students out to Las Vegas, none of them had flown before. As a matter of fact, a chaperone had never been on the plane. So we provided experiences for them through technology, because technology is the way that the world was going into to, to provide opportunities for young people and those who are less fortunate, and people who are not so less fortunate. That's what the MLK holiday is really all about. exciting opportunity.
Unknown Speaker 16:25
Great. So in closing remarks, can you just kind of give us an indication of where you are, in terms of preparing for next year? And I know, you're saying Wait, we just ended but I know, putting on something of that magnitude, the largest parade in the state of Nevada. In fact, maybe in the whole country. It's a lot of work.
Unknown Speaker 16:45
Well, Beatty television is doing a special on the three largest parades in the United States. And we're one of them. In the spring, we have probably had about 20 groups who signs up for next year already next year. And Chow 13 Has Has Has recommitted themselves to broadcasting and next year, excellent assumption is that there's beginning to be a favorite opportunity and favorite project that most of the bands look forward to. And the main thing we want to include everybody in our community, this is no parade for one particular community is for everybody. We're so glad that community has embraced it.
Unknown Speaker 17:23
All right, former Assemblyman Wendell P. Williams, president of the Martin Luther King, Jr, committee of Las Vegas, my friend, we appreciate the work that you do, because I think it puts focus on again, the community and the community at large, which is a good thing. So window. Thank you so much again, and we look forward to having you back on the year to give us further updates as we move toward number 42 and 2024. How time flies.
Unknown Speaker 17:54
Thank you, sir.
Unknown Speaker 17:55
All right. This is Veteran Affairs plus on 91.5 Jazz and more, we'll be back on the other side.
Unknown Speaker 18:10
Good morning, once again, this is Veteran Affairs plus on any 1.5 Jazz and more. In the in the first segment I mentioned about this being Black History Month and wanted to acknowledge some of the ancestors some of those firefighter personnel who did tremendous work within our given communities throughout the United States of America. And I mentioned at the end that I was going to talk in detail about trustee, or deadly trustee Bynoe out of San Jose fire department was currently living in Monterey, California and transition from this Earth. On Christmas Day, we will tow and I just wanted to cover in detail some of the things that I found out about him during his memorial ceremony. And then in the final segment, we will talk about another Trailblazer pioneer chief Herschel Clady. Now back to trustee. When we think about him, this is a loving tribute that was put together by his wife. When we think about it, one of the greatest traits of trustee by no possess was a couple of the compassion of his heart to be a father figure to many, giving others always what he designed for himself providing sound advice, encouragement to those who sought out him as an OG and Og day. And again, I mentioned that he passed away on December 25 At the age of 78. He was called and we will be forever changed as a result of this because trustee he was such a great man And he left behind his wife of 58 years. Linda Turner by now, and her daughter, Nicole, by know, both of Monterrey and granddaughter Ruby Rose, by know, of Oakland. And again, this guy was such a force. And I learned at his memorial. I always wondered, why wasn't he an officer? Again, as I introduced, he was a firefighter. And I learned at his memorial from his captain at the time. Hispanic gentleman, that trustee was up to take the captain's test the next day, and that day, in particular, he was looking to whoop the butt of his battalion chief, we're trying to run a guy off who had done nothing. So as it as it worked itself out, he didn't get to compete for for captain's job because of him getting himself into trouble. But this is the kind of guy that he he has always been. And he was a he was a young man who always pushed me to do the best that I could do. And sometimes we get into serious debates about different issues. And I also recall that he and I, along with a couple, a couple of other guys, firefighters from throughout the country, we used to be up at 6am in the morning, on a prayer call, we do it twice a week, early in the morning, who would think that guys would firefighters will be getting up at that hour for the purpose of praying amongst me, and we did that. And Trustee was one of the leaders. He was actually born on July 12 1944. And his parents, I later learned as well that his lineage go back to Barbados. And when you think about it, you could see the heart that he had in a very strong, strong and character, type individual. And he fought to ensure, in fact, if I remember correctly, he was a second firefighter that was hired. And he did a lot to ensure that there will be justice, a lack of discrimination and or bigotry that will go on in that fire department. And one thing I noticed as I attended his memorial, there was a lot of white firefighters there as well. Now you can tell again, about a person's life, how they affected the profession, by who attends their service. And again, it was well attended by his white colleagues, some of those guys knew of him currently working at the station that he worked at for many, many years. But what a great guy, a trustee, and his daughter, and, and his wife, again, live up in San Jose, where his wife, she has a PhD. She's an education, major, and she's done a lot of work and written several books. In fact, one thing that I am aware of is that trustee in fact, he told me he was putting together he was writing a book, I hope that his wife, Dr. Linda binal, has enough to complete that book, because I trust that this guy has a lot to say about the fire service as a profession. And I think it's just so be fitting that this book, hopefully will be completed because I know that he cares so much about mankind human can however you want to frame it. But this guy was a was a down to earth person. He gave it to you straight, as they say with no chaser. That's the kind of person that he was but again, love by all and again, it's a testament to him. When you see the folks that actually attended his service. This is something that we put together for him will actually to his family. We the Carl Holmes executive development institute, board, staff, instructors and alumni extend our heartfelt sympathy to the family of retired firefighter Dudley, trusty pyro. Please know that we're praying for Linda Nikki and the entire binal family. We hope that our prayers will lift you up and comfort you during this time of bereavement with peace and low trust. He was a dear friend of our core, one of our family Here's Dr. Carl Holmes, out of Oklahoma City. They knew each other for many, many years. And unbeknownst to me, because I attended gene Campbell and I, we attended the second class of EDI, and Trustee I found out he did he had he attended the first class, but did not come back. But yet he was one of the warriors who always or urged others to go to include he did a lot to encourage folks like me to uproot to pursue higher level positions within the fire service. While he, again retired as a firefighter after 25 years, but he was not so much into what he had to do, but pushing others. He and the late verjus Porter of Clark County Fire, they saw so many firefighters transitioning from this life that they suggested and feel we must gather annually together, they organized the Southwest regions, International Association of Black and five black professional firefighters reunion for the purpose of fellowshipping. And it became so successful that he and chief Herschel Clady, they seem like they were competing to who could put on the best function. And I said, and I continue to say that we're going to call it a draw. So we must continue to do these reunions in their honor. So I'm going to urge I'm going to do what I can to pursue and encourage people once again to continue doing these reunions because it's important for us to, to know about the work that they did. And it's also important for us to get together just to, as he say, break bread and continue to encourage and work together as a team. So once again, this is Veterans Affairs plus on any 1.5, jazz and more. And I want you to know that trustee was a veteran. In fact, that's where he met his wife up in Fort Ord up in California. And they were sweethearts and get it and they were married for 58 years. So that's something to model for the rest of us to pursue Veterans Affairs plus on any 1.5 Jazz and more on the other side, we're going to talk about chief Herschel plate
Unknown Speaker 27:36
the next gentleman that has said that I will talk about in some detail is Herschel Clady, Chief Herschel Clady out of LA County Fire Department retired in 2001. Herschel was an outstanding individual. In fact, I called him my superhero, because Herschel was always in a position that he would encourage people to become the best that they could be. And he also, when I was as a support services Battalion Chief, I didn't get this promotion. And I was moaning and groaning and I call Carl Holmes I call al Nero I call Bob Evans. And my final call was to Herschel Clady, and he told me, stop sniffling stop whining, get up and get back on your horse, in fact, be better prepared for the next opportunity. And after I got off the phone, I of course, called him a second EMS because I was thinking man, I want some sympathy. But I didn't know sympathy from those guys. And then Herschel also showed me his three ring binder. It had pictures, certificates of completion, awards, etc, etc. And that gave me an and also Monroe Williams did the same thing. I'm like, Wow, that's good stuff. So I modeled my presentation after him with my three ring binder. And it really helped me to, to get over the hump, if you will, with the next promotion. Again, a superhero I called him. In fact, I was one of his assistant regional directors. And during that period of time, I watched how cool and calm he would always be, no matter how tough the situation got. He was on top of his game, and I can tell you that also, another area that he was important to me was golf. He told me you will learn to play this game, or you will quit. You're gonna get tired of giving people your money. So you'll focus and he was right and I'm still playing the game. And again, thanks to my superhero, Herschel Clady, fire Assistant Fire Chief out of LA County. A Herschel services was on the 21st of February. So again, a lot of folks gathered to see him as he Yeah, just a show support to his wife D and his children Shandra, Cassandra, and Herschel the second. So, once again, thank you for your time just to listen to and he too was a veteran. And that's why I want to spend some special focus on both trustee and Herschel because of the work that he did not only for our country but also for the fire service. So with that, this is Veterans Affairs plus on 91.5 Jazz and more, I'm Dave Washington, your host we'll talk next month.
Unknown Speaker 31:06
Hey, when they step on the way
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