Charles L. Gittens, First African-American Secret Service Agent -- RIP

Charles L. Gittens (photo), who broke the Secret Service's color barrier in 1956, passed away recently in North Carolina. The Herald-Sun of Durham carried his obit; the link requires a further name search or patient scrolling to find the special agent's notice. After a full, upwardly mobile career with the Secret Service, Gittens retired and subsequently joined the Department of Justice. He became a Deputy Director of the Office of Special Investigations, where he was in charge of hunting down Nazis living in the United States.

Gittens lived long enough to have a scholarship named in his honor. The Charles L. Gittens Scholarship Award is offered to graduating high school seniors interested in a criminal justice or law enforcement careers. NOBLE -- the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives -- has more information about the scholarship.