H.R. No. 308 R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The Bridge City Volunteer Fire Department has 1-2 tirelessly served the community's safety needs for more than four 1-3 decades; and 1-4 WHEREAS, Organized in 1951 as part of the Bridge City Civil 1-5 Defense Unit by John Robert Saint and Archie Calhoun, the Bridge 1-6 City Volunteer Fire Department was chartered on March 26, 1953, and 1-7 its original officers were W. H. Bickford, president; J. M. Eshach, 1-8 vice-president; Archie Calhoun, fire chief; Thomas Spurlock, 1-9 assistant chief; Guy O. Rascoe, secretary; James R. Bays, 1-10 treasurer; and John R. Saint, fire marshal; and 1-11 WHEREAS, Acquiring and maintaining serviceable equipment was 1-12 a constant challenge for the volunteers, and their first vehicle 1-13 was a 1929 model Chevrolet fire truck donated by Harry Rosen of 1-14 Port Arthur; and 1-15 WHEREAS, On April 30, 1968, the first banquet honoring the 1-16 firemen was held at Granger's Restaurant on Round Bunch Road, with 1-17 Harrison Land deservedly named Fireman of the Year and Chief 1-18 Calhoun being honored for 15 years of distinguished service; and 1-19 WHEREAS, Indicative of the skill and dedication of these fine 1-20 individuals, the Bridge City Fire Department's first pumper team 1-21 took a third place trophy at the East Texas Firemen's Spring 1-22 Association at Buna in 1970; and 1-23 WHEREAS, Out of regard for their tireless service to the 1-24 community, the Bridge City Chamber of Commerce designated the 2-1 Bridge City Volunteer Fire Department as Citizen of the Year in 2-2 1983, the first time the chamber had ever selected an entire group 2-3 for its most prestigious honor; and 2-4 WHEREAS, Upholding the tradition of selfless dedication 2-5 established by the department's founders, the Bridge City Volunteer 2-6 Fire Department's current officers include Larry Callahan, chief; 2-7 Carroll Le Blanc, assistant chief; Ross Guilhas, Ricky Bodin, 2-8 Ronald Villanoueva, and Jeff Daigle, captains; Mike Le Leux, 2-9 president; Tammy Soileau, secretary; Gene Laughlin, treasurer; and 2-10 Billy Moore, training and safety officer; and 2-11 WHEREAS, The members of the Bridge City Volunteer Fire 2-12 Department exemplify the finest aspects of human behavior, risking 2-13 life and limb to preserve lives and property in their community, 2-14 and its is indeed appropriate that they be given special 2-15 legislative recognition; now, therefore, be it 2-16 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas 2-17 Legislature hereby honor the Bridge City Volunteer Fire Department 2-18 for its outstanding accomplishments in providing for the safety 2-19 needs of the community; and, be it further 2-20 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-21 prepared for the members of the Bridge City Volunteer Fire 2-22 Department as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of 2-23 Representatives. 2-24 Representatives. 2-25 Lewis 2-26 H.R. No. 308 2-27 _______________________________ 3-1 Speaker of the House 3-2 I certify that H.R. No. 308 was adopted by the House on March 3-3 11, 1993, by a non-record vote. 3-4 _______________________________ 3-5 Chief Clerk of the House