History

1986: Mexican-American firefighters who were members of the Dallas Fire Fighters Association DFFA (Local 58) for years were frustrated and discontented with the lack of concern and representation as well as continued inequality within their association for our issues. In attempt for pacification and to maintain our membership the DFFA Executive Board consented to the organization of the Mexican-American Caucus within and monitored by the association. Together we began to address, formulate, and present our concerns to the DFFA membership. Even with the Caucus the DFFA continued to ignore our concerns for access, assistance and equality within the association, the fire department and the community. Procedures such as double standards, exceptions, exclusions, chain-of-command intimidation and internal affairs investigation was the rule to be utilized for those of us who continued to challenged the system.

The Mexican-American Caucus included the following members:

Manny A Calderon, Jose R. Garcia, Richard L. Nuñez, Jesus C. Cantu, Lucio Gonzalez , Juan Romo, Charlie Contreras, Joe C. Guzman, John Ruiz

Luis Contreras, Richard Hernandez, Eddie Salaiz, A.B. Cardenas, Sergio Jaimez, Richard A. Salinas, Garry D. Castro, Paul Lara, Frank Silvas, Eduardo Cuellar, Frankie Joe Losoya, James E. Vara, Ed D. Davis, Guillermo Luna, Raymond Vela, A.B. Enriquez, Jesse R. Montemayor, Robert M. Verver, Frank R. Gamez, Sal Morales, Roland R. Gamez

1992: In 1991, the department understanding their exclusion of minorities under city council pressure appointed its first Hispanic Deputy Chief Roland R. Gamez. But continued frustration as to what was, we chose to organize and established THE DALLAS HISPANIC FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION with the aim to foster and encourage a high degree of skill and efficiency within the department. Through the cultivation of friendship, enhanced promotional advancement, and the elevation and improvement of (the) social, intellectual, educational and economic conditions of its Hispanic members. Also identify and recruit qualified Hispanics as well as to assist the Hispanic community by promoting a higher understanding of the fire service, fire prevention and safety education.

1992-93 EXECUTIVE BOARD

Juan Romo – President, Frank Silvas – 1st Vice President

Willie Luna – 2nd Vice President, Sergio Jaimez – Secretary

Sal Morales – Treasurer

1993:

Organized and established the Texas Association of Hispanic Firefighters in

Dallas in 1994 and the National Association of Hispanic Firefighters in Dallas in 1995.

1993-95 EXECUTIVE BOARD:

Sal Morales President; Willie Luna – 1st Vice President; Richard L. Nuñez – 2nd

Vice President, Sergio Jaimez –Secretary; Richard Salinas – Treasurer

1994: The DHFA initiated the first Smoke Detector Drive in Oak Cliff.

1995:

- The DHFA hosted collectively the 2nd Texas Association and the 1st

- National Association of Hispanic Firefighters Convention in Dallas.

- The first ever Minority Firefighters Black/Brown Summit in Texas was organized by the DHFA and was held in Austin.

- The DHFA is recognized and its Executive Board was invited to meet with and talk to President Bill Clinton at Dalfort Aviation, Dallas Love Field.

- The DHFA joins forces with LULAC to improve conditions and employment for Hispanics in Dallas and with the Southwest Voters

- The DHFA organizes the first Metroplex Council on Workforce Diversity.

- Registration to pilot the project to include Hispanics and other ethnic groups in the American democratic process.

1995-96 EXECUTIVE BOARD

Frank Silvas – President Ed Davis – 1st Vice President

Sergio Jaimez – 2nd Vice President Richard Salinas – Secretary -Treasurer

1996:

- The DHFA reaches an historical event we reached the 100-member mark.

- The DHFA promotes and conducts its own smoke detector drive in Northwest Oak Cliff after the death of a 2-year old girl. This event lead to the present day Dallas Fire Department smoke detector installation and maintenance program.

- U.S. Justice Department requested to mediate between the DHFA and DFD.

- NAHF held their first Texas-Mexico Bombero Summit in Laredo.

- 1st DHFA sponsored Family Picnic held at Sandy Lake Park and Christmas Party in December.

- 1996 3rd NAHF Convention (Austin).

- 1996 2nd NAHF Convention (Denver, Colorado).

1997-98 EXECUTIVE BOARD

Richard L. Nuñez; Sal Morales; Sergio Jaimez; Jose Garcia President 1st Vice

President; 2nd Vice President; Secretary; Treasurer

- Supported, lobbied, and passed in Austin the first bill sponsored solely by a Hispanic Firefighter organization, the Texas Burglar Bill.

- The first “Mis Primeros Pasos” workshop in the Metroplex held at the Dallas Fire Training Academy.

- The DHFA were approached to assist the International Association of Fire Chiefs in providing hospitality to our south of the border brothers.

- 1997 4th TAHF Convention (McAllen) and the 1998 5th TAHF Convention

- (Houston).

- 1997 3rd NAHF Convention (Chicago, Illinois) and the 1998 4th NAHF

- Convention (Las Vegas, Nevada)

1999-2001 EXECUTIVE BOARD

Ed Davis; Jose Garcia; Sal Morales; Richard L. Nuñez; Guz Natal President; 1st

Vice President; 2nd Vice President; Secretary/ Treasurer; Past President

In 1999 the DFD appoints to highest position achieved by a Hispanic and a

member of the DHFA Roland R. Gamez to the position of Assistant chief.

Under Assistant Chief Roland Gamez and with the assistance of the DHFA for

the first time in the history of the City of Dallas provided and filled all bilingual

positions in 9-11 Communications Division.

The City of Dallas selects its first Hispanic Fire Chief, Steve E. Abraira from the

Miami Fire Department.

The DHFA supported the defeat of House Bill 320, on Meet and Confer and

House Bill 1345 and Senate Bill 729 on Collective Bargaining.

Presented to the Texas Legislators and passed Senate Joint Resolution 32 -

Texas Constitution Amendment allowing Texas to donate surplus fire equipment

to Mexico.

1999 5th NAHF Convention (Miami, Florida) and the 2000 6th NAHF Convention

(Brownsville).

Hosted the 7th Annual 2001 NAHF Convention and Training Conference in

Dallas.

2002-Present EXECUTIVE BOARD

Daniel Salazar; Annette Ponce; Sal Morales; Charlie Salazar; Richard L. Nuñez;

Ed Davis President; 1st Vice President; 2nd Vice President; Secretary;

Treasurer; Past President