City of Flint mourns the passing of former Flint Fire Chief Samuel Dixon Jr.

Dixon served as the City of Flint’s first African American fire chief

The City of Flint mourns the loss of one of its heroes, Flint’s African American Fire Chief Samuel Dixon Jr., who recently passed away at the age of 95. Flags at Flint City Hall will be lowered to half-staff in his honor after the holiday weekend.

“Chief Dixon was instrumental in my life,” current Flint Fire Chief Theron Wiggins said. “I had only been a firefighter for a year when he became the fire chief, and that inspired me to see that we could go all the way to the top. He inspired us all to train and achieve higher goals within the fire service, and he will be missed by all of us who served with him.”

Chief Wiggins said that Chief Dixon worked to grow the Fire Prevention Bureau and arson squads, and had an important role in the diversification and inclusiveness of the Fire Department.

“When I was growing up in this community, Chief Dixon was a role model for me and for many other young men, especially African Americans,” Mayor Sheldon Neeley said. “He was a pillar of strength, and I can personally speak to his legacy and influence on young people. Chief Dixon also served for a time as the first African American appointed to the 6th Ward city council seat, and I am very proud to have followed in his footsteps as the first African American elected to the Flint City Council in the 6th Ward.”