[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 164 (Wednesday, December 19, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1963]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO ABRAM ``CAPTAIN'' COLES, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 18, 2012

  Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
trailblazing first responder from Columbia, South Carolina. Abram 
``Captain'' Coles, Jr. passed away on December 12, 2012, at the age of 
87. He devoted 35 years of service to the Columbia Fire Department that 
he helped integrate, and this remarkable man will be sorely missed.
  Abram Coles, Jr. was born July 7, 1925 in Hopkins, South Carolina to 
Abram and Patsy Gunter Coles. He was educated in the public schools of 
Richland County and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 
Columbia in 1943.
  After graduation, Abram was inducted into the U.S. Navy and served 
from 1943 to 1946. One of the highlights of his tour of duty was 
accompanying General Patton on his return from Europe to the United 
States.
  After completing his military service, Abram enrolled at Benedict 
College in Columbia, and graduated in 1951 with a Bachelor's degree in 
Chemistry. In 1953, he became one of the original eight African 
Americans to join the Columbia Fire Department. He was assigned to the 
Harden Street Fire Station. While employed as a fireman, he taught 
classes and rose through the ranks to become the first African-American 
Captain in Columbia.
  Abram was also very active in many professional organizations 
including the South Carolina Firefighters Association, and was the 2002 
President of the Retired Columbia Firefighter's Association. He was 
also a member of the Townsmen's Club of Columbia, where he served as 
president for several years.
  Abram was an avid bridge player and enjoyed gardening and fishing. In 
his spare time, he painted homes and businesses and enjoyed repairing 
just about anything.
  Abram was baptized at an early age at Zion Benevolent Baptist Church 
in Hopkins. After relocating to Columbia, he joined First Calvary 
Baptist Church and served there for many years. Later, he became a 
member of St. Luke Episcopal Church of Columbia where he served with 
the men's club until his health declined.
  He was married to Lillie Mae Weston for 33 years until her death. In 
1988, he married Jacqueline Parks. Abram had one daughter, four 
grandchildren, and one great-grandson.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in recognizing 
the extraordinary contributions of this ordinary man. I, like so many 
others in Columbia, South Carolina, am proud to call Abram Coles, Jr. a 
friend. He made a lasting impression on his community and all who knew 
him, and that is a tremendous legacy.

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