| | William H. | Billups | PA - Pittsburgh; NY - New York | 1965 - 1969 | | Civil Rights, Internal Security | For the FBI Oral History Heritage Project sponsored by the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI, Inc., which holds the copyright to the material.
Special Agent Billups served in the FBI from 1965 to 1969. This interview took place on November 11, 2008. Interviewed by Brian R. Holstein.
Born and raised in New Rochelle NY, Mr. Billups played football in high school and went on to Brandeis University on an athletic scholarship. Finding he was unprepared, Billups changed to Morgan State College in Maryland frpm which he graduated. He spent two years in the Army and was working in a youth program when an FBI Agent came to the Center in reference to another man and recruited Billups. He was selected for a 1965 New Agents training class.
The interviewer asked SA Billups how he felt as an African American, at this time of the civil rights struggle, and how his family saw his new career. He says that he felt it was better to be part of the changes. (He adds some personal history from his high school years.) Billings tells of a positive experience in training where he was only one of two black men in the class of sixteen.
SA Billups first office was Pittsburgh and he was the only black Agent and was fully accepted. He worked cars, fugitives and bank robberies as everyone did and was cited for bravery for chasing and capturing a murderer. SA Billups transferred to the New York Field Office to Squad 43 working Internal Security, black groups. He comments on those groups and their goals and how he agreed with them and the tension created by this.
He notes that at that time there were only three African American Agents in the whole New York Field Office. SA Billups was moved to the Hijacking Squad where he worked until he resigned in 1969.
SA Billups speaks of his pride in having served in the FBI. He actively encourages other young black men to consider the career. He ends with thanks to a list of men who were special friends. | Download PDF 1 | | |