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2004 LOE Award Recipient
Herman Williams
Herman Williams, Jr. is a 1949 graduate of Frederick Douglass High School. He began his career of public service on February 8, 1954 as a fire fighter in the Baltimore City fire department. Along the way he was promoted to pump operator, Lieutenant/Fire Academy, Captain/Fire Safety Officer, and Battalion Chief of the Fire Prevention Bureau. He continued his education at the University Of Maryland School Of Engineering where he completed the National Fire Service Staff and Command Course, and received certification as a Fire Service Instructor and Motor Fleet Supervisor.
 Chief Williams attended the Catonsville Community College receiving an Associate degree in Fire Management and the University of Baltimore, where he majored in Management and Personnel Administration.
In 1980, Mayor William Donald Schaeffer selected him to serve as the Chief of Administrative Services in the Department of Public Works, and in 1984, he was promoted to the number three position of Executive Assistant to the Director of Public Works.
In 1988 Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke appointed Chief Williams to the position of Commissioner of Transportation for The City of Baltimore. In 1992 He became the first African American Fire Chief of the Baltimore City Fire Department.
On February 14, 2001, Chief Herman Williams Jr. retired from the Baltimore City Fire Department. Although he has retired from full-time employment, the "Chief" remains very active.
Herman Williams, Jr. is currently the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Municipal Employees Credit Union of Baltimore City and a board member of the Municipal Golf Corporation. He is a Trusty on the Living Class Rooms Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the community, and empowering youth. He is also a hearing officer on the Property Tax assessment Appeals Board for Baltimore City.
He is an active member of Phi Bets Sigma, Fraternity, Inc., Prince Hall Masons, Knights of Columbus, and life time member of the Vulcan Blazer, Inc., and the International Association of Fire Chiefs. Chief Williams is the author of a book "Fire Fighter", a biographical sketch of his journey from early childhood to fire chief.
The chief is married to Marjorie and they have four children, Marjorie, Clolita, Herman, lll and Montel.
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