BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY : AFRICAN AMERICAN " TERESA EVERETT " SHE IS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALE FIRE CHIEF OF GARY INDIANA : GOES INTO TH " HALL OF BLACK GENIUS "

  BLACK    SOCIAL   HISTORY                                                                       Mayor swears in first African American female fire chief Teresa Everett

Photo provided by City of Gary

Mayor Karen Freeman Wilson swears in Gary Fire Chief Teresa Everett.

April 17, 2012 10:28 am  •  Contributed by Chelsea L. Whittington | City of Gary Director of Communications

GARY | On Sunday, April 15th, the City of Gary and the State of Indiana made history when the first African-American female fire chief was sworn in by Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson. Teresa Everett, boasts a firefighting career that spans more than 20 years. She most recently served as Fire Chief in College Park, GA. When asked what drew her to Gary, Indiana, Everett replied, "I saw the results of the election and the new mayor. History was taking place and great things are going on here. I am always looking for a challenge and wanted to be a part of this great change."

While Sunday's swearing-in was ceremonial, Chief Everett has actually been on the job since the beginning of April and spearheaded the emergency effort during the CSX train derailment that occurred Easter Sunday morning. "This derailment caused Chief Everett to hit the ground running," said Freeman-Wilson. "And she oversaw this crisis with excellence and professionalism."