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African American “Firsts” in Berks County

Lauren Balogh and others compiled this list

Occupations

1^st African American pastor: Sam Murray, a free black and a shoemaker, was the founding father of the local Bethel A.M.E. church.

1^st African American District Justice (formerly called Alderman): Nathan Walker, 6^th Ward, Reading

1^st African American owners of a school for early childhood education: Grace Davies and Hilda Letman (The Goddard School)

1^st African American police officer, Reading: Robert Young (unknown date of hire and unknown date of retirement/resignation; no official record could be found, but retired Officer Rodman Dawson he recalls Young’s name from his parents).

1^st documented African American police officer, Reading: Earl Dorsey

1^st African American to be employed at Reading Automobile Club [as Emergency Road Service Manager]: B.J. Ellison

1^st African American to work at the Social Security Office in Reading: Virginia Wilkerson

1^st African American registered nurse in Reading: Richard Grinage

1^st African American Director of PAL [Police Athletic League] (former policeman): George Bolton

1^st and 2^nd police lieutenants, Reading (highest commissioned rank achieved to date): Mark Talbot (active) and Lionel Carter (active)

1^st African American detective sergeant: Elton Butler, Sr.

1^st African American female police officer: None

1^st African American physician: Dr. Lee Terry

1^st African American dentist: Dr. William Swinson

1^st African American female meter maid in Reading: Roxie Willis

1^st African American to work in a professional position at the Berks County Court House: Pauline Carter

1^st African American notary in Reading: William V. Miller

1^st African American Attorney in Reading [also ran for District Attorney in 1930]: Justin Carter

1^st African American funeral home business in Reading: Stokes Stitt

1^st African American female postmaster in Reading: Ruby L. Jackson

1^st African American bank branch manager in Berks County: Ira L. Thompson.

1^st (and only) African American director of Berks Department of Veterans Affairs: Edward Rodwell

1^st African American volunteer and paid firefighter, Reading: Ralph Mickey (1870s-1913)

1^st African American Department Head of the Reading Fire Department: Frank McCracken, 1994-96

1^st African American real estate broker in Reading: Louis L. Miller

1^st African American to operate a dry cleaning business in Reading: Louis L. Miller

1^st African American check cashing business and the 1^st African American J.V. cable company in Reading [founder and owner]: Charles A. Miller

1^st African American woman to own and operate a ladies shoe and accessory shop in Reading: Brenda Futrick

1^st African American Football Hall of Famer from Reading: Lenny Moore

1^st African American woman to enter the field of real estate in Berks County: Lillie Foster

1^st African American women to own and operate African American beauty parlors in Reading: Helene Phillips and Lillian Parham

1^st African American to serve as Executive Director of the Reading Housing Authority: William Willis

Politics

1^st African American to run for Reading School Board: William Miller

1^st African American to run for District Attorney: Justin Carter

1^st African American to run for county Prothonotary (no African Americans have been elected to Row Office): Steve Little

1^st African American woman to run for public office in Reading as a Democratic candidate for City Council in 1971 (she lost) and the first woman elected president of the board of trustees at Wernersville State Hospital and the Greater Reading Council of Churches: Pattee Miller

1^st African American mayor: Allan D. Coad (mayor of Wernersville)

1^st African American president of Service Employees International, local chapter: Frank Gilyard

1^st African American president of the local chapter of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Union: Michael H. Reese

1^st African American elected as a committeeman, a union position: Joseph “Bud” Haines in the 1950s, while employed by the American Chain and Cable

Education

1^st African American Principal in Reading School District: Samuel Hubert, at the former 10^th and Walnut Elementary School

1^st African American teacher in the integrated Reading Schools: Velma King

1^st African American graduate of Kutztown University: Bessie Reese Crenshaw, 1950

1^st African American on record to attend Penn State Berks: Tyra L. Key. She registered for graduate level courses between summer of 1971 and summer of 1975.

1^st African American graduate of Albright College (1948): Joseph E. Coleman

1^st African American female graduate from Albright College: Geneva Bolton Johnson

1^st African American to be admitted to Reading High School: Lizzie Terry

Other

1^st African American in Reading to receive the highest honor in Boy Scouting [still active at the age of “89”]: Clarence Hubert

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