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Former fire marshal and one of the first Black firefighters in Durham dies

According to the fire department, 88-year-old George King passed away on Sunday. King was one of the two surviving members of the "Original Ten," the first African-American firefighters hired by the city in 1958.

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George King
By
WRAL staff

The Durham Fire Department on Tuesday is mourning the loss of one of the city’s first Black firefighters.

According to the fire department, 88-year-old George King passed away on Sunday.

King was one of the two surviving members of the “Original Ten,” the first African-American firefighters hired by the city in 1958.
King was one of the first Black firefighters hired by the city of Durham in 1958.

King, a Durham native, served with the fire department for 35 years and retired as the assistant fire chief and fire marshal.

King’s funeral will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 13, at the United Holy Church of America in Goldsboro.

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