Eugene Blackmon Jr.
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Eugene Blackmon Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 31, 1959 |
| Died | May 19, 1998 (aged 38) |
| Occupation | firefighter |
| Known for | Died in the line of duty |
Eugene Blackmon Jr. was a Chicago firefighter and scuba diver, who died in the course of duty, on May 19, 1998.[1][2][3][4] On July 31, 2017, the Chicago Fire Department named a new fireboat the Eugene Blackmon, in his honor.[5][6]
Blackmon was born in Chicago, and grew up on Chicago's south side.[1] He attended Harlan High School, Chicago State University, and qualified to work as a lifeguard and a scuba instructor.
Career
Prior to joining the Chicago Fire Department, in 1987, Blackmon had worked for several years as a lifeguard, and later was a bus driver for the Chicago Transit Authority.[1]