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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Juan J. Meza retired as the Zapata County fire chief |
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in December 2020, drawing to a close a distinguished tenure with the |
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department; and |
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WHEREAS, While still a student at Zapata High School, this |
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esteemed public servant began his career as a member of the Zapata |
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County Volunteer Fire Department in 1973; following his graduation, |
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he became the county's assistant civil defense coordinator, and he |
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went on to serve the county as its fire marshal and as its emergency |
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management coordinator; assuming the role of fire chief in 2002, he |
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helped to establish the Zapata County Fire Department, which gained |
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a mobile intensive care unit, paramedics, and rescue dive and |
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hazmat teams during his tenure; and |
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WHEREAS, A graduate of the National Fire Academy, Chief Meza |
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holds certification as an advanced firefighter, an advanced arson |
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investigator, and a master peace officer as well as an emergency |
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medical technician and a code enforcement officer; he has received |
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a number of prestigious accolades over the years, including the |
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Roscoe Gibson Award from the Texas Fire Marshal's Association, a |
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congressional certificate of recognition, and a certificate of |
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commendation from the U.S. Senate, and he was recognized by the |
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Texas Division of Emergency Management in 2019 with induction into |
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its Hall of Fame; and |
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WHEREAS, Chief Meza has given generously of his time and |
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energy to such worthy organizations as the Emergency Management |
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Association of Texas, the Texas Fire Marshal's Association, and the |
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South Texas Fire Investigators Association-RGV; and |
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WHEREAS, Juan Meza's dedication, courage, and |
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professionalism have greatly benefited the residents of Zapata |
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County, and he may reflect with pride on all that he accomplished in |
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his role as fire chief; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Juan J. Meza on his retirement as |
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chief of the Zapata County Fire Department and extend to him sincere |
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best wishes for continued success in all his endeavors; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Chief Meza as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |