Fire Chief Eddie Hamilton
By Joe Lowry
Edited by Anne Swearingen
Fire Chief Edward A. Hamilton joined the department in 1937. He was promoted to driver in 1938, lieutenant in 1940, captain in 1944, battalion chief in 1950, deputy chief in 1958 and chief in 1960.
Hamilton ran the Memphis Fire Department from 1960 to 1972, until Mayor Wyeth Chandler appointed someone over him who could be controlled.[1] Chandler also replaced Police Chief J. C. McDonald who, like Hamilton, ran the operation based on his experience rather than by political convenience.
Chandler promoted Robert W. Walker as Director of the Fire Department. Chandler created this position over the Police and Fire Departments. He installed retired Marine Gen. Jay Hubbard, who did not have law enforcement experience, as police chief. Political leader Edward H. Crump did the same thing in 1940, when he put a cotton merchant, Carrol Seabrook, in as Police Chief as a political favor.
Hamilton was not one to play politics. He expected the best from those under him and that’s what he received. Chief Hamilton led the department from the front just as those before him had done.
During the Nylon Net third alarm fire at 7 Vance Ave. on March 31,1966, Chief Hamilton was inside the building with his men, making sure they were safe. He told a newspaper reporter that he would know when to bring the men out. He was that kind of leader.
Eddie, as he liked to be called, grew up in North Memphis near Bickford Park and graduated from Humes High School. He was a Golden Gloves boxer and served as a Golden Gloves referee for 30 years before he became chief. He also taught Sunday School at First Baptist Church.
On several occasions Hamilton fought the city council as it tried to reverse parity between the police and fire departments. In 1971, the city council initiated a study to create separate pay scales for the police officers and firefighters. The Frye Report, named for a University of Memphis professor and leader of the study, was a contributing factor in the formation of unions in both the police and fire departments.
Hamilton was a demanding and sometimes autocratic leader, but he was fair.
He initiated a training concept that pulled the best engine and ladder company captains, lieutenants, drivers and tillermen to serve as Instructors for new recruits.
When Hamilton took over as chief, drinking on the job was common. District chiefs turned a blind eye as long as firefighters didn’t get drunk. When Hamilton became chief, that behavior ended.
Hamilton’s years as chief included two periods of great unrest in the city, including the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in April of 1968 and four days of rioting after the death of Elton Hayes in October of 1971.
He also was in charge when Memphis and four other cities won the Class 1 Fire Department Rating in 1966.
The department added an ambulance service during Hamilton’s tenure. He wanted the department to add it because, when a firefighter was hurt, the private ambulance companies didn’t always have their units available.
Fire Chief Hamilton was one of my favorite fire chiefs. I knew him personally he was great to me. The department was in good hands under his leadership.[2]
Hamilton retired in 1972. He died in October of 1983.
[1] In this author’s opinion.
[2] Opinion of Joe Lowry, author.