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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Fire Chief Manuel Mello III has made invaluable |
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contributions to his community during his 35 years of dedicated |
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service to the Eagle Pass Fire Department; and |
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WHEREAS, Chief Mello first joined the department as a |
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volunteer in 1988, before being hired as a full-time employee in |
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1992; he worked on the front lines as a firefighter and emergency |
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medical technician for several years, and he was among the Eagle |
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Pass firefighters who were deployed to the massive Eagle Oil fire of |
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1994; while he and his colleagues were battling the blaze, he risked |
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his life by driving a burning 18-wheeler away from the scene, which |
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prevented many deaths that may have occurred if a fuel tanker had |
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caught fire; and |
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WHEREAS, As he excelled in his duties, Chief Mello received a |
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series of promotions, to lieutenant, acting captain, and assistant |
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fire chief; he took the reins of the department in 2015, and his |
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major accomplishments have included implementing new policies and |
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procedures, procuring new vehicles and equipment, and overseeing |
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the construction of the downtown fire station and the |
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reconstruction of Station 2; and |
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WHEREAS, Along the way, Chief Mello has continued his |
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professional development, earning certifications as a fire |
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instructor, fire officer, and certified fire executive, to name but |
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a few; he also served as the emergency management coordinator for |
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the City of Eagle Pass from 2014 to 2018, and since 2013, he has been |
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involved in the Amistad Border Task Force, a collaboration between |
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the Environmental Protection Agency and its Mexican counterpart to |
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address environmental issues on both sides of the border; and |
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WHEREAS, Chief Manuel Mello has exemplified the highest |
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ideals of his profession and contributed immeasurably to the safety |
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and well-being of his fellow citizens, and his exceptional efforts |
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have earned him the lasting respect and admiration of all who know |
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him; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Fire Chief Manuel Mello III for his 35 |
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years of service to the Eagle Pass Fire Department and extend to him |
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sincere best wishes for continued success with his important work; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Chief Mello as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |