Family of Lee County's first black firefighter shares his story

The family of Lee County's first black firefighter, Eddie Hardin, shares his legacy and story.

IN HONOR OF BLACIK HISTORY MONTHWE’RE SHARING STORIES OF AFRICANAMERICANS WHO HAVE DONE SOMEAMAZING THINGS IN SOUTHWESTFLORIDA.

WE’RE FEATURING ONE OFTHOSE PEOPLE TONIGHT.HIS NAME IS EDDIE HARDIN AND BYALL ACCOUNTS -- HE’S THE FIRSTBLACK FIREFIGHTER TO WORK IN LEECOUNTY.FOX 4’S ROCHELLE ALLEYNE SPOKEWITH HIS FAMILY ABOUT HIS WORKAND HIS LEGACY.34-4157-1"fire sounds"WHEN THERE’S A FIRE --"fire truck noise"AND WE CALL FOR HELP -- WE’REALL PRETTY USED TO SEEING PEOPLEOF ALL SHAPES, SIZES AND *COLORSCOMING TO OUR RESCUE.BUT THERE WAS TIME IN SOUTHWESTFLORIDA -- WHEN THAT WASN’TALWAYS THE CASE.((Eddie Hardin III//Son of firstblack firefighter in LeeCounty))My father was always anoverachiever."THE HARDIN FAMILY REMEMBERS THATTIME ALL TO WELL.((Carolyn Hardin//Wife of firstblack firefighter in LeeCounty))"I didn’t want him to do it atfirst because I thought it wasdangerous."DESPITE HER BEST EFFORTS-- IN1974 CAROLYN HARDIN’S HUSBANDEDDIE SIGNED UP TO BEFIREFIGHTER WITH THE LEE COUNTYPORT AUTHORITY.((Carolyn Hardin//Wife of firstblack firefighter in LeeCounty))"He thought he was going in tobe a firefighter and actuallygod was just using him to openthe doors for people of color tocome behind him."CAROLYN AND HER FAMILY SAY EDDIETOOK THE JOB IMMEDIATELY.HE WAS THE KIND OF FIREMAN WHOWOULD SPEND AN HOUR LOOKING FORA PERSON TRAPPED IN A BURNINGBUILDING -- OR PULL A STRANGERFROM A BURNING CAR ON HIS OFFTIME.((Eddie Hardin III//Son of firstblack firefighter in LeeCounty))"He went on about his businesslike it was no big deal and herewe hear about it a few dayslater on the tv and we’re like’so you weren’t going to sayanything?’ And the first thingthat came out of his mouth isthat’s just my job."BUT BEING THE FIRST -- IN 1974-- WASN’T ALWAYS EASY FOR EDDIE.((Eddie Hardin III//Son of firstblack firefighter in LeeCounty))"He didn’t get the opportunityto sleep in the bunkers at firswith the other firefighters.

Hehad to sleep in a cot in thelocker room.

He had to bring hisown utensils and fork and plateto eat off of."{BUTTED T}((Carolyn Hardin//Wife of firstblack firefighter in LeeCounty))"It really hurt me the way hewas being treated because eventhough he was a black man, hewas a human being."BUT EDDIE DIDN’T LET THAT STOPHIM.((Eddie Hardin III//Son of firstblack firefighter in LeeCounty))"He was determined.

He said hewasn’t going to let that run himaway."THE NAVY VETERAN -- AND PREACHER-- WOULD GO ON TO SPEND 20 YEARSWITH THE PORT AUTHORITY’S FIRETEAM -- BEFORE AN ILLNESS SLOWEDHIM DOWN.IN 1992 -- HARDIN WENT IN FOR AHEART TRANSPLANT -- AND THOUGHSUCCESSFUL AT FIRST -- HIS BODYREJECTED THE ORGAN TWO YEARSLATER -- AND HE PASSED AWAY.((Carolyn Hardin//Wife of firstblack firefighter in LeeCounty))"Otherwise he would just beretiring right now."HIS FAMILY SAYS THEY HOPE THATBY SHARING HIS STORY -- THEYENCOURAGE THE NEXT GENERATION TOREACH A LITTLE FURTHER AND AIM ALITTLE HIGHER.((Eddie Hardin III//Son of firstblack firefighter in LeeCounty))"My dad would probably tellpeople to aspire to in