Joined Birmingham‚ Alabama‚ Fire and Rescue Service on 6/3/74. He was one of the first black firefighters. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 11/4/87; promoted to Captain on 10/28/95; and served as supervisor in Fire Investigations. As the supervisor in Fire Investigations‚ he wrote the S.O.P. for fire investigators and wrote the standards for the policing powers for fire investigators.
He founded the Birmingham Brothers Association‚ where he served as President for several years. He served as State representative for the International Association of Black Professional Firefighters.
A member of the International Association of Arson Investigators‚ he received an Associate Degree in Fire Science from Lawson State Community College and attended Miles College and the University of California at Berkeley. He was enrolled at Troy State University in Montgomery‚ Alabama when he passed.
He received certification as Firefighter I-II; Fire Inspector I‚ and Fire Investigator I-II. He also received certificates from the National Fire Academy in Incident Command Systems and training in Railroad Hazardous Materials and Incident Management Systems and Terrorist Management from I.A.B.P.F.F.
He was a member of Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church‚ where he served as a Deacon‚ Sunday School Teacher‚ Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Mount Pilgrim Christian Academy‚ and a member of the Sanctuary Choir and the male chorus.
He was a member of the Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World. He served as Exalted Ruler of the local chapter for 12 years‚ and as First Vice President and President of the State Chapter. He was Chosen as Brother Elk of the year on the local and state levels.
Married to Olinda Moore Cook‚ father of Carl V. Cook‚ Jr.‚ and grandfather of Karlisha R. Maddox.
I would just like to express my sympathies on the passing of your father and husband. Just from reading his bio, I realize what an inspiration he was to many men and women to become firefighters and live up to their potential. He was an extraordinary man and I know he is in heaven looking down at his family members with pride and love in his heart. Best wishes, Pam Arrant
– Pam Arrant