By Telford                                       H.R. No. 341

      75R9089 PAN-F                           

                                 R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to

 1-2     recognize the State Firemen's and Fire Marshals' Association of

 1-3     Texas for its invaluable work in providing protection to the

 1-4     citizens of our communities; and

 1-5           WHEREAS, Organized in 1876, the State Firemen's and Fire

 1-6     Marshals' Association of Texas is the oldest Texas association in

 1-7     existence and has provided 121 years of continuous service to its

 1-8     members and the State of Texas fire service; and

 1-9           WHEREAS, The purpose of the association is to promote, unify,

1-10     represent, and educate members of the fire service community of

1-11     Texas; and

1-12           WHEREAS, There are more than 1,000 fire departments and more

1-13     than 15,000 individual memberships from the volunteer, industrial,

1-14     and career sectors of the state and more than 100 associate

1-15     memberships from the related fire industry; and

1-16           WHEREAS, An affiliate of the Texas Municipal League, the

1-17     Texas Fire Chiefs Association was organized in 1961 to promote the

1-18     fire service as a profession, to improve the methods of fire

1-19     prevention, protection, and extinguishment, and to maintain high

1-20     standards of professional ethics; its membership is composed of

1-21     over 200 career, volunteer, and industrial fire chiefs and

1-22     associate members; and

1-23           WHEREAS, For the past 121 years, members of the State

1-24     Firemen's and Fire Marshals' Association of Texas have handled

 2-1     their responsibilities with efficiency and dedication to those they

 2-2     so conscientiously serve; and

 2-3           WHEREAS, Their meritorious work and exemplary devotion to

 2-4     their communities have earned the respect and admiration of all the

 2-5     citizens of Texas; now, therefore, be it

 2-6           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

 2-7     Legislature hereby commend the State Firemen's and Fire Marshals'

 2-8     Association of Texas and the Texas Fire Chiefs Association and

 2-9     recognize Wednesday, March 12, 1997, as "Firefighter Appreciation

2-10     Day"; and, be it further

2-11           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-12     prepared for these distinguished associations as an expression of

2-13     high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.