Freddie Jackson is a native Houstonian and for over 33 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 he received the Citation Award of Merit 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 families with needs including the seniors. He has assisted in providing food, shelter, clothing, roofing, yards mowed and even job placement. He has also volunteered at schools in Aldine ISD, Houston ISD, Alief ISD , Fort Bend County ISD and North Forest ISD doing Fire Safety, No Bully Here, Career Day and tutoring. He has worked with Community In Schools (CIS)(servicing 104 schools in 5 ISD’s) 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 Houston Black Fire Fighters Association a chapter of International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters (IABPFF) and was elected a board member. 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 that 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 and displaced children. 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 Chapter (BANOFF). 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 recently retired & served as a professional fire fighter with the City of Houston for 33 years. For the last 20 years and continues to serve as the Sargent at Arms for the IABPFF South Central Region and elected in 2004 as the Sergeant at Arms for the IABPFF on the national level. 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 AwardWent 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
* Elected to IABPFF National Executive Board – August 2004
* 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 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
* Volunteer, Habitat for Humanity – Building Homes for Gulf Coast Katrina displaced families
* Jarvis Johnson / Houston City Council District B – Leading By Example Service Award November 2006
* Houston Black Firefighters Association – Community Service Award – 1986 – 2006
* International Association of Black Professional Firefighters – Outstanding Service Award – August 2006
* Certificate for Retirement from the City of Houston – Served the Citizens of Houston from November 1973 till November 2006
* Re – Elected to IABPFF National Board – August 2006
* African American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston – 2007 Community Service Award
* Re-Elected to IABPFF National Board – August 2008
* February 2009 – Selected as family cast member for video & poster to represent Houston & South Central Region ( eight states ) in IABPFF Stop Fire Campaign & IABPFF NO Child Left Alone
* April 2010 – Elmo Delasbour HumanitarianAward – For Exceptional Community Service American Red Cross – Greater Houston Area Chapter – Southeast Branch
*** In recognition and Certified by :> The Houston Fire Department> State Representative – Sylvester Turner & Dr . Alma A. Allen> Harris County Commissioner – El Franco Lee> Congressional Recognition – CongressmanAl 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
* Re-Elected to IABPFF National Board – August 2010
* November 12, 2011 – Almighty Ministries, Inc. Honoree – ” Remembering Who Served the Community “*** In Recognition and Certified by :> City Council Member District B – Jarvis Johnson> City of Houston Fire Dept.> Congressional Recognition – CongresswomanSheila Jackson Lee
* Re-Elected to International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters National Board – August 8, 2012
* Re-Elected to International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters National Board – August 6, 2014
* Re-Elected to IABPFF South Central Region Board – May 2015
* Recognition in People Magazine – Hero Fire Fighter / June 2015 / Goggle Freddie Jackson People Magazine to read article
* IABPFF – Earl Varner Award – August 5, 2015
* Congressional Recognition on being Inducted to Phyllis Wheatley High School Wall of Fame – 2015 Honoree – November 10, 2015
* Re-Elected to International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters National Board – August 10, 2016
These are just a few of the many things that Mr. Jackson have done as a firefighter / Retiree of the Houston Fire Department, Local and IABPFF Chapters in the communities of which he has worked.