LT. John White: a living legend

Lieutenant (Ret.) John White of the Savannah Police Department is a son of Savannah, GA and Hilton Head Island, SC.

His parents are the late Gussie and Bonapart White. Lt. White was born in 1924. The Gullah Geechee communities of Old Fort and Tin City were a part of his foundation - the village that helped in raising him.

What is remarkable is that during the heyday of segregation he was intrigued by and guided by Caucasians in the community, in addition to the African Americans.

There was a conflict that occurred on West Broad Street (now MLK, Jr. Blvd.) Caucasian Savannah Police Officers and African American Soldiers from Camp Stewart (now Fort Stewart). The Caucasian police officers attacked the soldiers.

Rev. Dr. Ralph Mark Gilbert investigated on behalf of the NAACP. Dr. Gilbert advocated for the importance of a black USO and more importantly, for Savannah, in general, the need for African American police officers with the Savannah Police department.

The call was made to get African American candidates to now become officers. Lt. White was recruited by the savannah police department.

He and other 9 men would answer the call. Nine of them would become the first african American law officers in savannah and the entire in 1947. They were known as “the original nine.”

They were relegated to african American (gullah geechee) neighborhoods/communities. They were instructed that they could not arrest caucasians. Two days after he was sworn in white would detain/arrest a caucasian man - who first attempted to bribe, intimidate, and later spat at him to be released.

Lt. White served as the bodyguard for rev. Dr. Martin luther king, jr. When he was in the area. Presidents jimmy carter, ronald reagan, and bill clinton and fbi director j. Edgar hoover provided him with commendations for his work and career. Lt. White and the other surviving montford point marines received the congressional gold medal. The georgia association of chiefs of police recognized White.

Bouhan street at the intersection with waters avenue, where lt. White grew up and lived in Savannah, was named Lieutenant John White Avenue by the city of Savannah.