Alwin Benjamin Holman, known as Ben, made history in 1951 when he became the first Black firefighter in San Diego. Today, he’s celebrating his 100th birthday, marking a century of life that includes 32 years of dedicated service to the San Diego Fire Department.
Born in Alton, Illinois, Ben came to San Diego through his service with the Navy. When he joined the fire department in 1951, he was assigned to an all-white fire station, breaking barriers in a segregated era.
Ben’s groundbreaking career didn’t stop there. He went on to become the first Black firefighter in San Diego to achieve the rank of deputy chief, paving the way for future generations of diverse firefighters…