WFDD Real People Archive: Out of the Flames

Real People, Real Stories

Out of the Flames

June 12, 2011

StoryLine gives voice to everyday people throughout our community as they share the experiences that shape their lives. On March 1, 1951 Winston-Salem city leaders hired the city’s first African American firefighters. John Thomas was one of the original eight assigned to Station Number 4 along with seven white men. He was 26. Peyton Hairston joined the company as a firefighter in 1957. He was 24. The 15 men believed by working together and sitting side-by-side during meals they would prove to others in the community African Americans and Whites could work together as one unit. It would also prove African Americans were capable of being professional firefighters.
Thomas retired as an engineer after 32 years. He later joined the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System. He worked in the Career Center training others in food service. Thomas retired after 16 years.
Hairston retired in 1966. He also joined the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System and taught math at Atkins High School. He later moved to Philo Junior High School during the integration of Winston-Salem’s public schools. Hairston was an assistant principal at Philo and at Parkland High School. Later, he was promoted to principal at Mineral Springs, then at East Forsyth Annex and at Union Cross Elementary. Hairston retired in 1993. StoryLine is a project of the ECHO network and is made possible by the generosity of Salemtowne, a continuing care retirement community, where every life shines and stories are celebrated. In this week’s StoryLine, Peyton and John talk about integrating a professional fire house and challenging one of the South’s basic rules, separate but equal.