Full Biography for Forrest L. Buckley

Candidate for
Council Member; City of Cincinnati

I am a 58 year old male born in New Richmond, Ohio, July 31, 1941. I have been a resident of the City of Cincinnati since 1955.

I attended Hughes High School, enrolling there in my sophomore year and graduating in 1959. During that time our family lived on Erkenbrecher Street in Avondale. While attending Hughes I played basketball and baseball and was Co-captain of the basketball team my senior year, 1958-59. After graduating from Hughes I enlisted in the United States Navy and served from 1959 until July, 1962. I was honorably discharged from the Navy as a Radar-Technician Second Class and, except for boot camp and electronics training, served on a destroyer, the U.S.S. Moale, DD-693, for my entire tour of duty.

After discharge from the Navy I returned to Cincinnati and worked briefly as an Ironworker being a card carrying member of Local 44, Bridge, Structural and Ornamental Ironworkers. On April 7, 1963, I became a member of the Cincinnati Fire Division and retired from the Fire Division in June of 1995 after serving for more than 32 years.

I served as President of the Cincinnati Fire Fighters Union, Local 48, from 1975 until June, 1987. While serving as President of the Cincinnati Fire Fighters Union we negotiated our first ever written contract with the City of Cincinnati, incorporated a written grievance procedure, instituted a Safety Committee and initiated other programs that were of benefit to our membership. I also want to point out that during my tenure as President of Local 48 we were very instrumental in successfully passing the Right-to-Know ordinance that protects workers, as well as firefighters, from hazardous chemicals in the worksite. Additionally, we played a big part in developing the Emergency Medical Response system within the City of Cincinnati and the Cincinnati Fire Division. Our medical delivery system along with our fire fighting force has continually been rated by the citizens of Cincinnati as the two best services delivered by the City of Cincinnati.

Finally, l would like to tell you about my family life. I have one daughter and one son by a former marriage. They both were born and raised in Cincinnati and attended grade school and high school here. Both are graduates of Western Hills High School and attended Carson School and Dater Junior High before going to West Hi. My daughter is a registered nurse and now lives in Florida. My son is a small businessman who owns and operates an upholstery shop in Covington, Kentucky. I am married to the former Debra Ann Jones. Deb was born in Mt. Adams, moved to the west side of the City in her youth, and graduated from Mercy High School. She has been an employee of the City of Cincinnati for over 10 years and currently holds the position of Supervisor of Fire Dispatch with the Cincinnati Fire Division. We have resided in our home in Westwood for the past 9 years.