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Frank Tidwell
Frank Tidwell
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Frank
Tidwell
Plainfield Fire Division (retired)
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offline

2020 IABPFF NER Director


Chief Frank Tidwell (former) is an experienced and well-respected veteran of the Plainfield Fire Division, having started as a rookie Firefighter in 1980.


Throughout his career, Chief Tidwell has consistently displayed strong personal and organizational leadership traits. This unique ability has been demonstrated from his first promotion to Lieutenant in 1989 and his steady movement up the ranks culminating to his promotion to Fire Chief in 2011.


Chief Tidwell is indebted to the Plainfield chapter (formerly known as C.O.F.F.E.E) of the IABPFF who were out in the community recruiting and passing out applications while he was visiting

from Chicago.


His predecessor, Chief Cecil Allen, the first African American Fire Chief for the City of Plainfield, was instrumental in preparing Chief Tidwell to take command of the department and continue its strong legacy.


Under Chief Tidwell’s leadership the department was awarded two and one half (2.5) million dollars in the acquisition of apparatuses and command vehicles. Chief Tidwell was instrumental in the renovation of two of the City’s fire stations. Along with his competent staff, the department was able to experience a number of operational improvements and technological advancements.


As a passionate champion for community partnership between the Fire Division and the City, Chief Tidwell took great satisfaction in serving the residents of Plainfield. He was personally involved in the city sponsored, Stop the Violence Campaign, the Ruth Fellowship Feed the Hungry Program, the annual Senior Citizens Easter Basket Program and the annual Salvation Army Red Kettle Drive.


With a heart for service, Chief Tidwell has volunteered as a Probation Counselor, served as President of the Plainfield Vulcan Pioneers of Union County, a Committee Member for Faith, Bricks & Mortar and a Board Member for the Salvation Army.


Chief Tidwell has also been instrumental in donating several fire apparatuses to the Dominican Republic along with volunteering in the training of their firefighters for the last several years.


After 39 years of service with the Plainfield Fire Division ending in a distinguished career, Chief Tidwell has chosen to live eternally in the red by fighting injustices in the fire service and paving the way forward for the next generation of African American leaders in the fire service by serving as Director of the North East Region of the IABPFF.


Although Chief Tidwell has attained his degree in Fire Science, an alumnus of the Executive Development Institution and a frequent attendee at The National Fire Academy

for managerial preparedness, by far his greatest achievement is his seven boys and one daughter.


Comments (26)

To all our IABPFF, EDI and Chicago Fire Department family, I regret to bring sad news and condolences on the passing of former Deputy Fire Commissioner of the Chicago Fire Department, Nicholas Russell.
This news is sudden and I ask all to give the family and Department time and space to grieve and then notify us of arrangements. Please the family in your prayers.

So sorry to hear of the passing of Brother Outerbridge. I can remember him being argumentative on the convention floor back in the 70s. I see he continued to voice his strong opinions well after retirement in some of the things he wrote. Thank you for your committment and contributions to the IABPFF. Rest in Peace

Biography, RIP Brother

Fireman Leslie Outerbridge risked his life to save others and risked his job for racial justice. Born December 29, 1936 in Chicago, Outerbridge grew up in the Cabrini Green projects. His father, a former cricket champion from Bermuda, taught him about fair play. Outerbridge was a good student at Jenner School and entered Wells High School early at age twelve. Dropping out at age fifteen, he joined the Air Force in 1953. There, he played on the installations’ basketball, football and baseball teams. After his discharge, Outerbridge drove a taxi, until his father’s friend, Robert Thompson, a black firefighter, “sponsored” him for the Chicago Fire Department (CFD). Outerbridge passed the written exam, but “failed” his first physical. Later, Outerbridge found that his father’s donation of $300 ensured that he “passed” the second time around in 1961. Outerbridge later returned to school, earning a B.S. from Chicago State University in 1981.

In 1968, Outerbridge, along with Jim Winbush and Wesley Thompson and backed by the NAACP, Operation PUSH, and the Chicago Urban League, with inspiration from Father George Clements, Anderson Thompson, and legal assistance from Attorney Kermit Coleman, formed the Afro American Firefighters League (AAFL). The AAFL completed a study in 1973 that detailed the Chicago Fire Department’s record of racial discrimination in hiring and promotional practices. The United States Justice Department filed a lawsuit against the City of Chicago that same year. Mayor Daley signed the court ordered “consent decree” in 1977, which resulted in increasing the number of black firefighters from 125 to 400 by 1979. Now, the number is over 1,000. Forced to fight a relentless paper war with unhappy CFD brass, Outerbridge discovered that paperwork was their weakness. For thirty-seven years he performed his duties and retired in 1995. Outerbridge was also a founder of the International Association of Black Professional Firefighters in 1969.

A talented photographer and part time model, Outerbridge has researched the history of African Americans, the CFD and the great Chicago fires – a history that goes back to 1873 when Willie Watkins was the first black firefighter. Outerbridge lives in Chicago’s West Chesterfield neighborhood with his wife, Annie.

It has come to my attention that Brother Les Outerbridge of Chicago passed to reward yesterday. Brother Outerbridge was a warrior in the war of racism and discrimination on the Chicago Fire Department and he left his legacy, his book called SMOKE. My Brother will be missed by all that knew him. Rest in Peace Warrior.

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