Abraham Bolden

ABRAHAM BOLDEN is the author of The Echo from Dealey Plaza: The true story of the first African American on the White House Secret Service detail and his quest for justice after the assassination of JFK.

Mr. Bolden was born to Daniel and Ophelia Bolden in East St. Louis, Illinois on January 19, 1935. He attended Lincoln High School and, upon graduation, entered Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri. Mr. Bolden graduated cum laude from Lincoln University with a B.A. in music composition.

Later, Abraham Bolden married his long time friend and schoolmate, Barbara, to whom he was married for 49 years prior to her death. To that marriage were born 3 children, Ahvia Maria, Abraham Jr., and Dr. Daaim Shabazz. He also has two grandchildren, Ismail and Cydni.

After graduating from Lincoln University, Mr. Bolden became the first African American Detective to be employed by the Pinkerton National Detective Agency. After leaving the detective agency, he served as a State Highway Patrolman in the State of Illinois. Continuing to advance in the field of police work, he became a member of the United States Secret Service in October of 1960. Mr. Bolden met President John F. Kennedy in Chicago, Illinois and, after a brief conversation with Bolden, President Kennedy was instrumental in making Mr. Bolden the first African-American to be assigned to the Secret Service White House Detail in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Bolden served in the U.S. Secret Service from 1960 to 1964. He lives in Chicago and is retired after working for thirty years in the field of quality-control supervision. Since the release of his book, Mr. Bolden has been requested for a variety of radio, TV, and newspaper interviews, as well as speaking engagements.