Samuel L. Moses

Samuel “Sam” Louis (#1 U.S. Mule) Moses, was born on November 14, 1925 in Warrenton, Georgia to the late Charlie Moses and Sallie Ivey. He was an only child.

Sam attended schools within the Georgia public school system.  He also attended Sunday school with the young Martin Luther King, Jr.  Sam was an intelligent, pleasant, and social child. He always had the ability to bring a smile to the faces of those around him. Sam earned his General Equivalency Diploma and enlisted in the United States Navy on May 23, 1943.

Sam went to Gunner’s school and served aboard the USS Chester as Stewart Mate First Class during WWII.  He traveled to Australia, Hawaii, Japan, and Tokyo before he was honorably discharged on January 5, 1946.  Upon discharge from the Navy, Sam moved to Toledo, Ohio to be close to his mother. Sam secured employment with the Greyhound Bus Company in a position doing one of the things he loved, driving. 

In 1947, Sam moved to Catskill, New York and got married. He worked at American Valve as a molder where he organized the labor union.  Sam moved to Troy, New York in 1949 and later worked in retail and at Star Mills repurposing parachutes.  In 1955, Sam became the first African-American police officer in Troy, New York. During his time as an officer, Sam managed to thwart a robbery and apprehend two suspects.  Sam would always share the story of how he fired a single shot and the bullet hit both suspects allowing Sam to capture the men single handedly.

After working in law enforcement, Sam worked as a self-taught auto mechanic and truck driver.  In 1967, Sam embraced an entrepreneurial spirit and purchased his own tractor, a red and white 1967 GMC Astro cabover that he owned until 1975.

Sam moved to Albany, New York in 1968 and later served as a Ward Leader when he resided on Sheridan Avenue.  He obtained employment as a bus driver with the Capital District Transportation Authority, where he was employed from 1972 until he retired on September 1, 1990.

Sam departed this world on Saturday, January 5, 2019 at the age of 93 at The Troy Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing in Troy, New York. Sam was a resident of Albany, New York at the time of his death and died peacefully in his sleep of natural causes.

Sam is survived by his wife Gertrude Moses of Troy, NY, and his children Samuel Louis (Carolyn) Moses Jr. of Charlotte, NC; Frank (Melodee) Moses Sr. of Troy, NY; George (Janet) Moses of Richmond, VA; Sally Walston of Troy, NY; Ruby (Tyrone) Johnson of Richmond, VA; Leonard Moses of Troy NY; Paul Moses of Troy, NY; Rebecca Moses of Troy, NY; Joseph (Lisa) Moses of Dallas, TX; Tya Nelson of Schenectady, NY; Stanley Grady of Albany, NY; Sean (Carla) Grady of Upper Marlboro, MD; and Sandra Moses of Fort Lauderdale, FL.  Sam is also survived by 28 grandchildren, 42 great-grandchildren, and 12 great-great-grandchildren and his bonus daughter Shonta (Ramion) Burt of Albany, NY, and a host of family and friends.

Predeceased by parents, Charlie Moses and Sallie Ivey; daughter, Alicia Climes; grandsons Dennis Moses and Tyrone “Tee” Johnson; and son-in-law Anthony Walston.

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