Fort Wayne House Democrats honor Richard Ridley Jr.

Richard Ridley Jr., the first African American firefighter to serve in the Fort Wayne Fire Department (FWFD), passed away on October 20th at the age of 85. Ridley, who served in the FWFD from 1961 to 1985, became one of the first Black graduates of Fort Wayne's Concordia Lutheran High School in 1956.

House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta (D-Fort Wayne) and State Rep. Kyle Miller (D-Fort Wayne) issued the following statements regarding his passing:

“I'd like to extend my deepest thanks to Mr. Ridley for his years of service to the Fort Wayne community and send my condolences to his wife, eight children and extended family,” GiaQuinta said. “Mr. Ridley was a trailblazer here in Fort Wayne, and his dedicated service will not be forgotten. I'm very glad that we were able to celebrate Ridley's dedication in 2015, when he received the inaugural Pioner Award from the FWFD.”

“Mr. Ridley's life and accomplishments are a testament to his dedication to serving his community,” Miller said. “From being one of the first African Americans to graduate from Concordia Lutheran High School in House District 82, to serving our country in the 101st Airborne Division, to making history as Fort Wayne's first African American firefighter, Ridley broke barriers that changed Fort Wayne for the better. My heart goes out to his family and loved ones.”