April 1, 1958:  Muncie Fire Department is Integrated  

Muncie’s fire department was integrated.  John Blair and Hurley Goodall became the first two African American firemen in Muncie.  There was almost immediate resistance from 52 other firemen who signed a petition to protest the decision.  Goodall recalled some of the reasons listed on the petition:  Blair and Goodall would not fit in, the Caucasian firemen did not want to share a toilet with African Americans, and that Blair and Goodall’s presence at the firehouse could somehow lead to intermarriage.

Cited by:  Marrow, T. A., III (2004). Reconciling the Past:  A Brief History of Race Relations in Muncie. Muncie, IN: TEAMwork for Quality Living.