Mr. Jackson is a native Houstonian and for over 50 years has truly been a dedicated servant in his community. He joined the Houston Fire Department in November of 1973. He was a member of Local # 341 from 1974-1993. During his tenure on May 7, 1992, he received the HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD FROM FIRE CHIEF EDDIE CORRAL and receivedthe Citation Award of Merit FROM LOCAL # 341 in December of 1992 for going above and beyond the call of duty for assisting the Carlisle family.
He has volunteered in several capacities and countless hours assisting underserved families and children with special needs including the seniors. He has assisted in mentoring, providing food, shelter, clothing, roofing, yards mowed and even job placement. He has also volunteered at schools in Aldine ISD, Houston ISD, Alief ISD, SpringISD and North Forest ISD doing Fire Safety, Career Day and tutoring. He has worked with Community In Schools (CIS) and a number of other community agencies and organizations on many levels. Mr. Jackson has dedicated selfless and tireless hours volunteering with the organization Habitat for Humanity.
In the midst of working in his community Mr. Jackson saw a need to start a Thanksgiving Food Basket Program in 1992. He asked the fire fighters at his station #67 to give a donation of $5.00 each and to commit to also be a volunteer. At this time it was 44 fire fighters. This first year only about ½ of the fire fighters donated and 5 families benefited. After evaluating the needs of the community further and being committed to succeed he decided some changes needed to be made. The next year the Food Basket Program was changed to be held annually at Christmas and to also include donations for food and toys. In 1986 Mr. Jackson joined the International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters (IABPFF). After hearing about the work of the community program through him in about 1997 the Houston Chapter of the IABPFF became a sponsor for the program. The Houston Chapter appointed a Community Action Committee and elected him to be the Chairperson. He still chairs today and with those combined efforts the next year they were able to donate to 125 families and 225 children. These numbers are a combination of food and toys to families and toys to needy, displaced and underserved children.
On October 12, 2000 the Houston Fire Department along with Fire Chief Lester Tyra awarded him the FIRE CHIEF’S COMMENDATION MEDAL
Mr. Jackson also extended his professionalism, knowledge and tireless hours to volunteer across the state line to his fraternal sisters and brothers from Louisiana. We all know some of the needs of the Katrina evacuees. On behalf of the Houston Chapter of the IABPFF he and others assisted in finding shelter, issuing funds and transporting from Louisiana to Houston. He also funded on his own a week of shelter at a hotel for 4 members displaced from New Orleans. The Houston Chapter of the IABPFF decided to host a Fill the Boot fundraiser on September 11, 2005. This fundraiser would benefit the Katrina evacuees. He assisted with the fundraiser and it was a great success raising $ 12,000.00 in only 5 hours.
Beyond being a humanitarian committed to his community Mr.. Jackson retired in 2006 & served as a professional fire fighter with the City of Houston for 33 years. For the last 30 years and continues to serve as the Sargent at Arms for the IABPFF South Central Region and was elected in 2004 as the Sergeant at Arms for the IABPFF on the national level. He held that elected office for 16 years until he decided to step down in 2000. He currently is the Chairperson of the Community Action Committee & for 20 years served as the Corresponding Secretary for the Houston Chapter of the International Association of Professional Black Fire Fighters.
To name some of the awards received:
- Sandra Hines Jr. Achievement–Youth Against Drugs -1987, 88, 89, 90
- Houston Fire Dept. Citation of Merit Award – Went beyond the everyday means of care for a family in need – 1992
- Houston Fire Dept. Meritorious Service Award – Fire and Life Safety Protection for the Citizens of Houston – 1992
- Garden City Resident Council – Service to Residents of The Acres Homes Community – 1998
- Exchange Club of Cosmopolitan Houston – Book of Golden Deeds – 1994
- United to Serve America – Diamond Award – 1995
- The Old Acres Homes Citizens Council Achievers’ Award – October 2006
- The Acres Homes Historical Community Association – Community Service Award – 2006
- Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition – On behalf of the Constituents of the Ninth Congressional of Texas – November 2006
- Received The Flag of the United States of America that was flown over The United States Capitol in Washington DC in his Honor at the request of The Honorable Al Green, A Member of Congress – November 2006
- Houston Fire Department Fire Chief’s Commendation Award – 2000 (Top Award received from Fire Chief)
- Volunteer, Habitat for Humanity – Building Homes for Gulf Coast Katrina displaced families – 2005
- Jarvis Johnson / Houston City Council District B – Leading By Example Service Award November 2006
- Houston Black Firefighters Association – Community Service Award – 1986 – 2006 ( 20 year service award) * International Association of Black Professional Firefighters – Outstanding Service Award – August 2006
- Certificate for Retirement from the City of Houston – Served the Citzen’s of Houston from November 1973 till November 2006
- African American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston (Formaly Acres Homes Chamber of Commerce) – 2007 received Community Person of the Year Service Award
- February 2009 – Selected as family cast member for video & poster to represent Houston & South Central Region which includes ( eight states ) in IABPFF Stop Fire Campaign
- April 2010 – Received Elmo Delasbour Humanitarian Award – For Exceptional Community Service American Red Cross – Greater Houston Area Chapter – Southeast Branch
*** Award was In recognition of and Certified by :
> The Houston Fire Department
> State Representative – Sylvester Turner & Dr . Alma A. Allen
> Harris County Commissioner – El Franco Lee
> Congressional Recognition – Congressman Al Green & Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee
> The State of Texas Senator – Rodney Ellis
> Mayor of the City of Houston – Annise Parker
> City Council Member District D – Wanda Adams
* Certificate of Achievement – Unsung Hero 2013 award
* 2015 – Inducted to Phyllis Wheatley High School Wall of Fame (Allumni)
* Recipiant of the IABPFF Earl Varner Award August 2015
* PROCLAMATION received September 2017 from Mayor Sylvester Turner Proclaming September 22nd Jackson Cares Day / Freddie Jackson Day
* Society of Champions Outreach Award 2018 – Congressional Recognition Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee
* July 2018 – SGIA MEN & WOMEN EMPOWERMEN AWARD – Congresssional Recognition Congressman Ted Poe
* July 2019 – Certificate of Excellence award from Social Good in Action
* 2019 Community Activist of the year award
* 2019 Harris County Precint One Certificate from Commissioner Rodney Ellis
* 2019 Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from Congressman Al Green
* 2019 Certificate of Special Recognition Award from State of Texas from Texas State Senator Boris Miles Dristrict 13
* 2021 November – Received United States President JOE BIDEN’S PRESIDENTIAL LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
* 2023 October – Received SHINING STARS COMMUNITY PARTNER OF THE YEAR SILVER AWARD
These are just a few of the many things that Mr. Jackson have done as a firefighter of the Houston Fire Department, Local and IABPFF Chapters in the communities of which he has worked.