Julius W. Becton Jr., a groundbreaking retired Army Lt. General and the first Black director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has died at the age of 97. Becton served in the Army for nearly four decades, rising to become the Army's highest-ranking Black officer in the 1970s. He served in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Cold War. Becton received numerous awards and medals for his service, including the Distinguished Service Medal, two Silver Stars, two Purple Hearts, and two Bronze Stars. After retiring from the Army, he became head of the Foreign Disaster Assistance office and then the first Black director of FEMA in 1985. Becton also had a successful career in higher education and the private sector. He served as president of Prairie View A&M University and as the chief executive officer of public schools in Washington. Becton was recognized for his leadership and influence, and he was listed several times as one of the 100 most influential Blacks in America by Ebony magazine. He passed away on November 28, 2021, due to complications from dementia.
Julius W. Becton Jr., a retired three-star Army general and one of the military's highest-ranking Black officers, passed away at the age of 97. He served in the still-segregated Army and went on to become a decorated veteran of three wars. Becton received the Silver Star in Korea and Vietnam and was the first Black officer to lead what was then the Army's...
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