San Diego honors Alwin Benjamin Holman, the first black firefighter to integrate city firehouses, on his 100th birthday
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SAN DIEGO — December 27, 2025. Alwin Benjamin Holman, the trailblazing firefighter who broke racial barriers in the San Diego Fire Department in 1951, was honoured in end of 2025 as he celebrated his 100th birthday.
City leaders proclaimed December 26 as “Alwin Benjamin Holman Day,” recognizing his historic role in integrating firehouses and his decades of service to the community.
Holman was not seeking to make history when he joined the department. “I was just looking for a good, steady job,” he told the San Diego Union-Tribune. But Fire Chief George Courser had a broader vision. He told Holman he would be the department’s “Jackie Robinson,” assigning him to Station 14 in North Park—making Holman the first Black firefighter to serve outside the segregated Station 19 in Mountain View.
His quiet professionalism and dedication helped pave the way for other black firefighters to be assigned across the city. Holman later became active in the firefighters’ union and steadily rose through the ranks, retiring in 1983 as a deputy chief.
At his centennial celebration, held at a local church with more than 100 friends and family in attendance, Holman reflected on his life with humility. “I don’t know what brought them all here, it sure wasn’t me,” he joked. “But I’m glad they’re here”.
Aryka Randall has posted videos and photos of Alwin Benjamin Holman on Facebook:
Further reading:
https://fox5sandiego.com/news/local-news/san-diego/first-black-san-diego-firefighter/?