Chattanooga and the State of Tennessee. McCray is joined by family, daughters Freda and Fredericka; son, Stephen, and wife, Cheryl McCray. (Contributed photos)
Mr. Fred McCray, a pioneering healthcare professional who broke racial and gender barriers in nursing, will be inducted into the Bessie Smith Cultural Center and Chattanooga African American Museum’s Hall of Fame in August, recognizing his historic legacy as the first African American male Registered Nurse in Chattanooga and the State of Tennessee.
Affectionately known as “The Bessie,” the Bessie Smith Cultural Center celebrates Chattanooga’s African American history through a permanent exhibition gallery honoring local trailblazers whose achievements have shaped the community.
Rather than inducting annual classes into a traditional sports-style hall of fame, the museum features an ongoing exhibit dedicated to preserving the stories of Chattanooga’s most influential African American leaders.
For Mr. McCray, the recognition is both humbling and deeply meaningful.
“Oh, I’m grateful,” Mr. McCray said during an exclusive telephone interview with the Chattanooga News Chronicle. “But having known so many other African Americans who have gone into the profession long before I got to it, I’m just grateful to be in the number.”
Mr. McCray earned his registered nursing license in 1971, becoming the first Black male Registered Nurse in Chattanooga. He also made history as the first African American male commissioned into the U.S. Army Nurse Corps as an officer through the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program.
His groundbreaking career opened doors for generations of minority men entering the nursing profession.
Ironically, nursing was not Mr. McCray’s original career plan.
“I had planned to go into education,” he recalled. “Mostly my family were educators. I found out much later that there are a couple of nurses in my family, but I was already into nursing when I found that out.”
Mr. McCray’s career path changed after accepting a job as an orderly at Memorial Hospital.
“I went to work at Memorial Hospital, and enjoyed my job there as an orderly,” he said. “While there, I learned that the hospital offered scholarships. So I went to Cleveland State, and Memorial Hospital paid for that.”
Family responsibilities also played a major role in his decision.
“At the time, it was need,” Mr. McCray explained. “Well, I needed to be employed, and I needed to be able to be employed. At the time, I was responsible for the care of my mother and my father. So that was the basic catalyst for my going into a profession where I could help people.”
He noted that opportunities for African Americans pursuing nursing were extremely limited in the late 1960s.
“I was either gonna’ have to teach or nurse. At the time, there was nowhere locally for Blacks to attend to become registered nurses,” he said. “Either you had to go to Tuskegee or somewhere out of state. There was not a school here in Chattanooga.”
Throughout his distinguished career, Mr. McCray served as a Registered Nurse with the Hamilton County Department of Education, providing healthcare and advocacy for students across the school system.
He also practiced at Erlanger Hospital, where coworkers remember him for his compassionate patient care, spiritual encouragement, and steadfast commitment to those he served.
His pioneering accomplishments continue to be recognized by community organizations, including the Chattanooga AARP Chapter, and he is frequently highlighted during Black History Month celebrations for opening doors for future generations of African American healthcare professionals.
Even at 80 years old, Mr. McCray says the demand for nurses remains stronger than ever.
“For nearly everybody, but for me in particular, as a registered nurse, you can always work. You will always have a job,” he said with a laugh. “There was a time when I would leave one job and would not immediately go apply for another one because I didn’t want to go to work the same day.”
“I am 80 years old, and I’m still getting calls to come to work,” he continued. “Of course, I’m not gonna’ step in there, but that’s nothing. This profession is so in demand.”
Reflecting on the profession that shaped his life, Mr. McCray believes nursing is ultimately about service.
“I feel that it’s a profession where you need to have a desire to help people,” he said. “Whether you are doing just that–nursing–or you’re working in an insurance company, well, you need a desire to help people.”
He also encourages young people to consider nursing because of its many career opportunities.
“Nursing is a wonderful profession,” Mr. McCray said. “It also has so many areas of employment. You can work in the hospital. You can work in different areas of the hospital. You can work in insurance companies. You can be a travel nurse.”
He pointed to the many career paths that begin with a nursing degree.
“One friend of mine is a hospital administrator. She started off as a registered nurse. I have one or two friends who are now doctors, and they started off as registered nurses.”
As the Bessie Smith Cultural Center adds Mr. Fred McCray’s story to its permanent gallery of African American legends, the honor serves as a lasting reminder that one man’s determination to care for others forever changed the face of nursing in Chattanooga and inspired generations to follow.