By: Erickson H.R. No. 41
73R2278 BNL-D
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, After 29 years of outstanding service to the people
1-2 of his community, Captain Robert H. Douglas, Sr., will retire from
1-3 the Burleson Police Department on January 29, 1993, bringing to a
1-4 close a noteworthy 31-year career in law enforcement; and
1-5 WHEREAS, Focusing his tireless efforts on fighting drug abuse
1-6 and counseling troubled youths during much of his career, Captain
1-7 Douglas has set a new standard of public service for his fellow
1-8 officers to emulate; and
1-9 WHEREAS, This remarkable citizen first gained the attention
1-10 of his fellow Burleson residents while he was a student at Burleson
1-11 High School, where he was an all-district football player for three
1-12 consecutive years; and
1-13 WHEREAS, After serving two years in the United States Army
1-14 and studying law enforcement at Navarro Junior College, Captain
1-15 Douglas realized his dream of becoming a police officer by joining
1-16 the Cleburne Police Department, where he served for almost three
1-17 years; and
1-18 WHEREAS, On January 20, 1964, he began a long and
1-19 distinguished tenure with the Burleson Police Deparment that
1-20 coincided with a period of dynamic growth for both the department
1-21 and the community; joining the department when it was only a
1-22 two-man operation, Bob Douglas became a mainstay of the police
1-23 force as it grew along with the community, and by the time he was
1-24 promoted to the rank of lieutenant and put in charge of the patrol
2-1 division, he was supervising 22 other officers; and
2-2 WHEREAS, As a lieutenant, he continued policing the streets
2-3 with the other patrol officers, but he also served as acting chief
2-4 of police on five different occasions, which gave him the
2-5 opportunity to demonstrate his exceptional leadership abilities;
2-6 and
2-7 WHEREAS, Promoted to captain and chosen to supervise the
2-8 police department's fledgling community services division, Captain
2-9 Douglas soon demonstrated another talent that was to prove
2-10 invaluable to the division's success in the years to come; he
2-11 persuaded a citizen to donate a two-story building directly behind
2-12 the station to the police department, thus earning a new home for
2-13 the community services division and freeing up space in the police
2-14 station to serve other needs; and
2-15 WHEREAS, Captain Douglas used his position in this division
2-16 to strengthen police involvement in the community and schools,
2-17 founding a DARE program to educate children about the dangers of
2-18 drugs and encouraging them to lead productive, drug-free lives; and
2-19 WHEREAS, This compassionate and dedicated man did not limit
2-20 his involvement in this crusade to speaking at schools; he became
2-21 the major force that drove the DARE program forward, personally
2-22 spearheading a highly successful fund-raising effort to support the
2-23 program; and
2-24 WHEREAS, Captain Douglas, known to most of Burleson's young
2-25 people as "Officer Bob," devoted much of his time talking with and
2-26 counseling troubled youths, and his longtime concern for the
2-27 community's youth led him to found the Burleson Boys Club; he
3-1 coached football and softball for the club but still found time to
3-2 dedicate to community service as a member of the Optimist Club and
3-3 as a volunteer fire fighter; and
3-4 WHEREAS, The people of Burleson have repeatedly honored this
3-5 esteemed officer, who was twice named employee of the year by the
3-6 city of Burleson and is the only employee to have received that
3-7 prestigious award more than once; in 1988, the Burleson Ex-Students
3-8 Association presented him with their highest honor, the J. W.
3-9 Norwood Award, and on December 22, 1992, his fellow officers at the
3-10 Burleson Police Department selected him as the department's Officer
3-11 of the Year; and
3-12 WHEREAS, Throughout his exemplary career as a law enforcement
3-13 officer and community leader, Captain Douglas has enjoyed the love
3-14 and support of his wife, Mary; their marriage was blessed with
3-15 seven children, and their family has recently grown to include 10
3-16 grandchildren; and
3-17 WHEREAS, In a world where crime and drugs are increasingly
3-18 accepted as a part of modern life, Captain Robert H. Douglas, Sr.,
3-19 stands as a shining example that one voice speaking out and one
3-20 hand extended to others can make a significant change; while the
3-21 people of Burleson will never be able to replace such a fine and
3-22 noble peace officer, they will forever benefit from his legacy, a
3-23 legacy that shows that faith may move mountains, but only hard work
3-24 can change the world; now, therefore, be it
3-25 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas
3-26 Legislature hereby honor Captain Robert H. Douglas, Sr., for his
3-27 exceptional law enforcement career and outstanding community
4-1 service and extend warmest best wishes for continued happiness and
4-2 success in the future; and, be it further
4-3 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
4-4 prepared for Captain Douglas as an expression of high regard by the
4-5 Texas House of Representatives.