From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (main entry)
Davis, Van, Jr.
(born: 1929 - died: 1991)Van Davis, Jr. was born in Louisville, KY, the son of Mannie and Van Davis, Sr. He was the leading plaintiff in a discrimination lawsuit against Los Angeles County. Davis became the first African American firefighter with the Los Angeles Fire Department in 1953. He was also a veteran of the U.S. Navy.
For more see "Van Davis, Jr.," a County of Los Angeles Fire Department Facebook post; COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES et al., Petitioners, v. Van DAVIS et al., a Legal Information Institute website; and the Los Angeles County Stentorians' 'Our History' site.