Former Pullman Porter, 100, Recognized By City Council

UNION CITY, CA - Virgil Smock boasts a distinguished pedigree. The 100-year-old Union City resident was a Pullman porter on the luxury train’s sleeping cars, as were his father and grandfather.

Pullman porters have a unique place in history: with the help of A. Philip Randolph, the porters successfully unionized and became the first all-African-American union in America, called the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP). The BSCP also played a role in the civil rights movement, with its members helping end segregation in the U.S. military and in the South.

During his years as a Pullman porter, Smock met many celebrities, dignitaries, and government officials, including Franklin Roosevelt, Earl Warren (who became a Supreme Court Justice), Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Henry Ford, and more.

In recognition of Black History Month, Smock received two proclamations from the City Council Tuesday evening: the first to recognize Black History Month, and the second to honor the auspicious occasion of his 100th birthday.

Also Recognized

Mark and Mahea Gaskins, a husband and wife team who have long been active members of the Union City community and who recently started a nonprofit called The Village Method were also recognized by the City Council.

The Village Method addresses the specific challenges and needs of African American youth and empowers the African American community through helping students achieve academic excellence, teaching students and their families about economic and financial literacy, and educating students and families about nutrition, emotional health, and physical health. The Village Method serves students and families from 6th-12th grade throughout Southern Alameda County.

--1935 Photo of unidentified Pullman Porters via Smithsonian Institution Archives