Honoring Capt. John Lyon: A Firefighting Pioneer

0:00It's April 27. I'm Cory with the story. This is Durham News Today, driven by AI. Capped. John Lyon, a 92-year-old Korean war veteran and pioneering firefighter, has passed away from natural causes. He made history as one of Durham's first African-American firefighters, hired back in 1958 as part of the original tin who integrated. The department at Fire Station 4, Leon was the last surviving member of that groundbreaking crew. Very highlights raw perseverance, turning barriers into breakthroughs during a time when the fire service was all white males. Family says he built a tight brotherhood that cut through racial lines, especially in those early days without modern gear. His son Reginald remembers watching Dad and the team hold hands, hold breath, and search burning buildings together. You didn't make it out solo. Durham Fire Chief Robert Zoldos calls them trailblazers who paved the way for every firefighter since. Italian Chief Sean Walls, with 18 years on the job, just wants to say thanks for standing

1:01on those shoulders. The department's pushing now to better mirror the community it serves, keeping Lyon's impact alive and daily work. Services go down Saturday at noon, at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Apex, honoring a legacy that still sparks change today.