[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 21 (Monday, February 9, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S856]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
REMEMBERING HENRY LEE FIELDS
Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. President, I wish to commemorate a Georgia first
responder, public servant and leader, Chief Henry Lee Fields, who
passed away on December 28, 2014.
Chief Fields was born to Eddie Lee and Dorothea Johnson Fields
on July 13, 1944, in Dougherty County, GA. He worked hard to graduate
from Monroe High School in 1963, and attended Newark Community College
before returning home in 1964 and working as an auto mechanic. He and
his wife Dorothy Fields had two daughters, Rosalind and Wynne, and he
was in the automotive field when he applied for a job at the fire
department and found his true calling.
Chief Fields worked his way up the ladder and, in 1991, became the
first African-American to serve as chief of the Albany Fire Department
in Albany, GA.
During that time, Chief Fields also served in the role of emergency
management director, and was confronted with two major floods that
devastated the area in 1994 and 1998.
Chief Fields retired in 2000 after touching many lives through his
fire safety efforts and through his church, Jordan Grove Missionary
Baptist, where he served in many roles.
The Albany Fire Department headquarters appropriately lowered their
flags to half-mast during the memorial service for Chief Fields.
Henry Fields was an inspirational leader and his years of service to
his community will not be forgotten.
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