Elizabeth Hilton had plans to become a teacher when she saw something that changed her life.
Hilton was working in downtown Dallas and, admittedly, wasn’t paying much attention to the training they were undergoing. She looked outside the high-rise window to see a Dallas Fire Rescue engine pull up across the street. It sparked her curiosity to see them truly enjoy their jobs.
She began to investigate and inquire, but wondered if it was possible, since she had never seen a female firefighter. Elizabeth spoke to her husband about it and he thought it was a great idea. They reached out to a friend who was a Dallas firefighter and he told her to do a ride-along with them. She did and afterwards, knew immediately that’s what she wanted to do.
“I don’t know how to explain it. From that moment on, I was enamored,” She said.
She began a tough workout regimen, knowing that the physical aspects of the job were difficult and passing the physical agility test would be a challenge.
After two tries, she passed and was admitted into the fire academy in January of 1992.
“One of my lieutenants pulled me aside and said, ‘Did you realize that you are the first Latina [firefighter] in all North Texas?’ and I said, ‘What?’ and he said, ‘You know what, that’s pretty honorable!’” Elizabeth recalled.
From that moment on, she was motivated to bring more women and specifically Latinas into the fire department, but it proved to be challenging.
“My goal was to bring in as many as I could find, but there was a cultural barrier that just wouldn’t break,” she said.
She recalled a conversation with a Latina she had where the young lady said her parents would not be happy with her becoming a firefighter because it is a male-dominated job.
But over the years, she began to see more women joining the ranks.
“When I do see [women in the fire department], I’m excited. I just want to hug them. They’re like my babies now,” Elizabeth said.
Almost 30 years later, the first Latina firefighter in Dallas is retiring but her work isn't done.
“I’d like to go back and help our guys. So that’s my goal to pursue a degree as a Licensed Professional Counselor and come back and help our troops…because we’re all one big family,” she said.
We're proud to call Elizabeth Hilton this week's KRLD Difference Maker.
If you know someone making a difference in the community, send us an email at differencemaker@krld.com
Related
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow NewsRadio 1080 KRLD