RETIRED GUARDIAN ASSOCIATION HISTORY

The Retired Guardians Association was formed in 1976. It was originally known as the New York City Police Fraternal Association Incorporated and later underwent two name changes to bring it more into line with the parent organization and to also encompass retirees who served in both the Transit Police and the New York City Transit Police departments. The association was formed because many of the retiree’s, who as retired members of the Guardians Association, felt that the aims, objectives and goals of the active members differed greatly from the goals and welfare of the retirees. The first president of the association was Leonard Alston.  Lenny was no novice when it came championing the cause of black Transit Police officers, having served as the 5th president of the Cerberean Society from 1962 to 1965. Serving as president for 10 years, Lenny advanced the causes of our retirees. The association was also very active in our building fund, NAEREBREC. In 1986, Lenny turned over the reins of the association to its second president, Willie G. Hill. Willie successfully headed the organization for 3 years. Our next president was Ron Forte, who led the association for over 6 years. Under Ron’s leadership the association instituted a scholarship program, which assisted the children of our members with the escalating costs of higher education. We also engaged in several community projects. It was also during Ron’s administration that the association, with the invaluable expertise of Leroy Bines, Stanley Caldwell, Abraham Martin, John Dixon and Alex Gilchrist, our president from 1997 to 1998, began its annual reunions, which continue today.  Our next president was  George Turner, who continued to raise the social consciousness of our members. Our next president, George Clements, worked tirelessly to further the causes of the association. George was followed by a past president of the Guardian Association, Ben Patton. A member since the Retired Guardians inception,, Ben was a founding member of the Century Club, a member of the Board of Directors of the Guardian Foundation and a champion of the causes and issues of our retirees. Our next and current president is Charles McCray, who while embodying all of the energy and qualities of our past presidents, faces the new and very difficult challenges of an aging membership, increasing our membership rolls, recruiting new retirees who served little, if any time in the Transit Police while maintaining social awareness and increasing our participation in the community. One of Charles most recent endeavors is the formation of a Women’s Auxiliary, an effort to utilize the vast talent and resources of the women of our association.

History updated December 2010.

HISTORY LINKS

HISTORY OF THE GUARDIAN ASSOCIATION

50 ORIGINAL MEMBERS

GUARDIAN PRESIDENTS

OLD JOURNALS