Robert O. Lowery

Robert Oliver Lowery (April 20, 1916 – July 24, 2001) was sworn in as the 21st New York City Fire Commissioner by Mayor John V. Lindsay on January 1, 1966 and served in that position until his resignation on September 29, 1973.

Robert O. Lowery
Robert O. Lowery in 1966
21st New York City Fire Commissioner
In office January 1, 1966 – September 29, 1973
Mayor	John V. Lindsay
Preceded by	Martin Scott
Succeeded by	John T. O'Hagan
Personal details
Born	April 20, 1916 Buffalo, New York
Died	July 24, 2001 (aged 85) New York, New York
Spouse(s)	Viviane Lowery
Children	Trudy and Leslie Lowery

Biography

Lowery left a job in Harlem as head usher for the Alhambra Theatre for his first civil service appointment. After taking a number of tests, he became a Subway Conductor for a year in the Transit Authority.[1] The next call came from the New York City Fire Department (FDNY). Lowery was appointed as a fireman in 1941. He was promoted to fire marshal in 1946, and that same year won a commendation for arresting a man for 30 acts of arson and burglary. In 1960, he was cited for capturing an armed arsonist, and the year after became an acting lieutenant in the Bureau of Fire Investigation.[2] During this time, Lowery was an active member of the Vulcan Society, serving as its President from 1946 to 1950, 1953 and 1954, 1957, and from 1959 to 1963.

On November 14, 1963, Lowery was appointed Deputy Fire Commissioner.[3] He addressed the racial issue head on, striving to increase the proportion of blacks and the sensitivity of whites. He also increased the number of black firefighters assigned to black neighborhoods, as well as the number of blacks in leadership roles.

On November 23, 1965, incoming Mayor Lindsay announced the appointment of Lowery as Fire Commissioner of the New York City Fire Department. His was the first commissioner level appointment announced by the Mayor-elect. Lowery, who was the first African American to serve as a Fire Commissioner of a major U.S. city, served in that position for more than 7 years until his resignation on September 29, 1973 in order to campaign for then-Controller Abraham D. Beame, the Democratic candidate for Mayor.[4]

Lowery died on July 24, 2001 in Manhattan at the age of 85.[5]

Trivia

Either as tribute or by happenstance, his name is shown prominently in a scene of the first movie The Godfather, printed in bold red letters on a hospital fire safety box in the scene where Michael Corleone protects his father, Vito Corleone, against would-be assassins in the absence of his bodyguards. The action is set to be prior to 1946, however, so the reference is anachronistic.

References

1. https://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/27/nyregion/robert-lowery-first-black-fire-commissioner-dies-at-85.html
2. Vulcan Society FDNY - Vulcan Society History
3. "Negro Appointed Deputy Fire Aide. Lowery Succeeds Ortiz". New York Times. November 15, 1963. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
4. Smith, Terence (November 24, 1965). "Lindsay Selects A Negro To Head Fire Department. Lowery, Democrat, Will Be First Of His Race To Hold That Commissionership". New York Times. Retrieved 2010-03-25. Robert O. Lowery, a 49-year-old Democrat who voted for Abraham D. Beame for Mayor, was selected yesterday as the city's first Negro Fire Commissioner.
5. Martin, Douglas (July 27, 2001). "Robert Lowery, First Black Fire Commissioner, Dies at 85". New York Times. Retrieved 2010-03-25. Robert O. Lowery, the city's first black fire commissioner who served at a time when arson-fueled blazes raged through the city's minority neighborhoods, died on Tuesday in Manhattan. He was 85 and had homes in Washington Heights and on the island of St. Vincent, his daughter Trudy Erwin said.