Chief Dallas W. Greene, Jr.
Dallas W. Greene Jr., was born June 29, 1923 and passed away on January 12, 2016 surrounded by his family and friends in his beloved hometown of Shreveport, LA. A Celebration of Life for public servant Chief Dallas W. Greene, Jr. will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, January 15, 2016, at Kings Highway Christian Church, 806 Kings Hwy, Shreveport, LA 71104. Interment will follow at Centuries Memorial Park with full Shreveport Fire Department Honors. Family will receive friends on Thursday, January 14, 2016 from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Southside, 2500 Southside Dr. Shreveport, LA 71118.
Dallas attended local grammar schools and graduated from Fair Park High School in 1941. At Fair Park, he played on the baseball team and was President of the Hi-Y and Captain Adjutant of the R.O.T.C. In May of 1941, Dallas was employed at Arkansas Fuel Oil where he played fast pitch softball for the state Champions Cities Service Softball Team. On April 15, 1942, he went to work for the Shreveport Fire Department as a Firefighter on #1 Pump at Central Station.
In August of 1943, he entered the armed services where he was assigned to the 2052d Engineer Battalion Fire Fighting platoon at which time he was promoted to sergeant. Dallas served in this capacity in England and France. In June of 1945, he was transferred to the 455th Air Services Brigade and was promoted to First Sergeant.
Returning to the United States, he was honorably discharged in November of 1945 and returned to work with the Shreveport Fire Department on #1 pump at Central Station. On October 4th 1947, he married Alice Whittington and two years later on October 11, 1949 they welcomed a daughter named Valerie, the love of their life. He was promoted to Driver in 1949 of #1 Pump, promoted again to Captain in 1952 of #1 Pump and House Captain at Central Station. April 13th, 1965, Dallas was appointed Chief of the Shreveport Fire Department. He also served briefly in the 1970s as Chief of the Shreveport Police Department during vacancies.
Chief Greene retired from service on October 31, 1989 after serving 47plus years with the Shreveport Fire Department and 24 plus years as Chief. After retirement, Chief Greene volunteered his talents and time with several local and state agencies including the Office of Emergency Preparedness, Caddo Council on Aging, Caddo/Shreveport Crimestoppers.
Chief often said the best part of his retirement was spending time with Alice and their family. Valerie Rockett, her husband David (Roc) and their three grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
"We played together, went to church together, took trips, vacations, cruises and were a great big happy family with lots of love and laughter."
In 2004, at the recommendation of Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran and Mayor Keith Hightower, Rep. Cedric Glover sponsored a bill to name the Central Fire Station of Shreveport the Dallas W. Greene Jr. Central Fire Station. The station was opened and dedicated in June of 2004.
Chief Greene was preceded in death by his parents, Eunice Lester Greene and Dallas W. Greene, his daughter Valerie Greene Rockett, his brothers William and Bobby Greene, nephew David Evans and sister-in-law Mittie Greene.
He is survived by his wife Alice Whittington Greene, his grandchildren David R. "Rocky" Rockett, Jr. and wife Ashley, Stacy Rockett Ross and husband Larry, Valerie Rockett Jones and husband Adam. Great-grandchildren Kelly Anna Ross, Cameron Ronald Ross and Zachary Dallas Ross, Caroline Elizabeth Rockett, David Wayne Rockett, Ashton Marianne Farr, Andrew James Rockett and Madison Olivia Jones. Son-in-Law David R. Rockett, Sr. and wife Kathy, sister Delores Evans and husband Roy Dale, sister-in-law Doris Greene. Several nieces, nephews and the men and women of the Shreveport Fire Department whom he dearly loved.
Honoring Chief Greene as pallbearers will be Rocky Rockett, Larry Ross Jr., Adam Jones, Ricky Greene, Justin Greene, Michael Greene, Bill Greene, and Darold Westall.
Serving as honorary pallbearers will be all active and retired members of the Shreveport Fire Department, Shreveport Police Department, Caddo and Bossier Sheriffs Department, Bossier City Fire and Police Departments, Dr. Charles Nash, Dr. Clint McAllister, Dr. Harvey Carter, Former Shreveport Mayors Billy Hanna, John Hussey, Keith Hightower, Cedric Glover, and the Signal 51 Group.
Thank you to so many friends and family at Montclair Assisted Living Center, Renee, Melanie, Angeline, Yvette, Butch, Tanka, Rachel, Delores, Sheryl, Dorothy, Danielle, Pearl, Valkyrie, Mary, and Jay. Circle of Life Hospice Care, Amy Dowe, Joanne Woodard, Sylvia, along with Margaret Shehee and the entire Rose-Neath Family, The Honorable Ollie S. Tyler, the City of Shreveport, and the Shreveport Police Department and especially the men and women of the Shreveport Fire Department along with the many friends, family and colleagues who made these last days so comfortable for this true public servant. Chief lived his life for his family and his community.
The family suggests memorials may be made to Valerie Greene Rocket CYF Fund at the Kings Highway Christian Church, 806 Kings Hwy, Shreveport, LA 71104.