Tulsa's First Black District Fire Chief Remembered

The Tulsa Fire Department honored one of its first African American firefighters Friday.  Merle Stripling died September 19.

The department says Stripling was part of the first group of African Americans who were hired and eventually became its first African American District Chief.

9/21/2013 Related Story: Tulsa's First Black District Fire Chief Dies

Stripling worked for the department for 30 years before he retired in 1986.

His great niece is now a Tulsa firefighter.

Services for Stripling were held at Tulsa's St. Monica Catholic Church.