by Louis ‘Hop’ Kendrick, For New Pittsburgh Courier
As a youngster in the early 1940s, I met Dock Fielder and we grew up together at the Ammon Recreation Center, swimming pool, ball field, etc. Dock lived in the upper Hill (5th ward) and I lived in the lower Hill (3rd ward). Dock was influenced and introduced to politics by the top “colored” politician in Allegheny County, 5th Ward Chairman Pappy Williams. Time does not stand still and the Fielder family moved to the East Liberty section of Pittsburgh and established himself in the Little Italy section of Larimer Avenue, as a person not just of toughness, but concern and conviction, particularly when the issues involved colored people (we were not called Black yet).
I registered in 1952 and became an active Republican for the next 25 years. It was a major concern of mine about the political process wherever colored persons lived in numbers such as the Hill District, East Liberty, Homewood, Hazelwood, etc. In the early sixties Dock and I became reacquainted and I was tremendously impressed with a number of positive accomplishments that had taken place because of Dock. The civil rights movement was at its peak and I watched, listened, and saw a Black man who was fearless and his priority was you and me. Others refused to challenge “old master” out of fear and no commitment. Now it’s the seventies and my wife and I bought a house in the 12th ward. I vividly recall a public meeting on a Saturday and the Ward Chairman said it is not clear if he will run for reelection. Dock Fielder walked to the microphone and stated, “I will make up your mind for you. It is time for a Black man to represent the 12th Ward,” and we just roared. Dock Fielder was elected Chairman.
I became Dock’s left hand man; Tom Martinelli was his lifetime right hand man. Dock became the highest-ranking Black in Allegheny County as the Assistant to Commissioner Tom Forester.
Over Dock’s career he was responsible for an untold number of persons becoming employed, retiring with pensions and health insurance. There was a former county employee who approached Dock one day and said to the four of us standing there, “Do you know who you are talking to?” Before we could answer he said, “See that young lady in my car? That is my daughter who is a college student and that is my house across the street and I receive a pension check every month because of the many you are talking to, Dock Fielder.”
I recall being in Dock’s office one day and a lady walked in and asked could she speak to Mr. Fielder, and before I could answer she explained to me that she had just graduated from Pitt with a PhD and went on explaining to me that because her father was a friend of Dock’s she had been hired by Allegheny County’s health department and she was able to go to college.
Dock respected persons, not titles or positions. I know first hand because I have sat in a number of meetings with him. There has never been a Black Democrat that can equal Dock’s accomplishments. Over the years I have heard many colored critics question Dock’s lack of degrees and articulation, but never fail to call him when a problem arose.
These two examples of employment could be multiplied by an unbelievable number and thousands of problems solved. The word across the county was when you have a problem call Dock Fielder. In the election of Allegheny County Commissioners in 1995, the Democrat candidate made a public statement that he could win without Black voters. Dock Fielder led the fight to defeat that Democrat and was successful in electing the Republicans. It was the first time in history that the 12th Ward voted Republican.
I have known every person of color to be elected to council, legislature, ward chairman and those that White persons appointed “HNIC”, beginning in 1956.
This column was written on a Sunday and it came to my attention that those of you who are familiar with the bible will recollect that the Master’s favorite was King David, who was a perfect example of “there are none perfect, no not one.”
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