R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The tragic loss of Fort Worth firefighter Brian
1-2 William Collins on February 15, 1999, at the age of 35, is indeed
1-3 cause for much grief and sadness, and we join his family and
1-4 friends in mourning the passing of this heroic individual; and
1-5 WHEREAS, A 15-year veteran Fort Worth firefighter, Lieutenant
1-6 Collins perished while battling a blaze that quickly engulfed Lake
1-7 Worth's Precious Faith Temple, giving his life in the line of duty
1-8 while fulfilling his obligation as a member of River Oaks Volunteer
1-9 Fire Department, his community fire department; and
1-10 WHEREAS, This dedicated public servant was a passionate
1-11 defender of life and property, and his commitment to the dangerous
1-12 but vital occupation of firefighting was equaled by few and
1-13 surpassed by none; and
1-14 WHEREAS, An active and devoted member of Birchman Baptist
1-15 Church, Lieutenant Collins also served as emergency management
1-16 coordinator and fire marshal for River Oaks, sharing his many years
1-17 of experience and expertise with the residents of that close-knit
1-18 community; he was a former chairman of the park board and dedicated
1-19 countless hours to the improvement of his neighborhood's public
1-20 spaces; and
1-21 WHEREAS, This thoughtful and generous man also appeared at
1-22 area schools and local festivals as part of the Fort Worth Fire
1-23 Department's "Learn Not to Burn" campaign, and his contributions in
1-24 this regard surely imparted many valuable lessons to the children
2-1 of Fort Worth; he was recognized many times for his excellence as a
2-2 firefighter and received several awards, including the A. T.
2-3 Huffhines Fireman of the Year award in 1984 and 1997 and the Fire
2-4 Officer of the Year Award in 1985; and
2-5 WHEREAS, Brian Collins truly relished the responsibilities of
2-6 being a firefighter, and his many years of service to his fellow
2-7 citizens will not soon be forgotten; he was a role model not just
2-8 as a professional, but also as a human being, and while his loss is
2-9 painful to all who knew and loved him, his spirit will undoubtedly
2-10 live on in our hearts and minds; now, therefore, be it
2-11 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
2-12 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Brian William Collins
2-13 and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his
2-14 wife, Mary Collins; to his children, Ryan William and Hannah Marie
2-15 Collins and his unborn son; to his parents, the Reverend John
2-16 Collins and Marie Collins; to his brother, Michael B. Collins; to
2-17 his sisters, Sharon Moore and Denice Crawford; to his grandparents,
2-18 Roy and Goldie Hurley; to his parents-in-law, Doug and Rosemarie
2-19 Ray; and to the many other relatives and friends of this beloved
2-20 gentleman; and, be it further
2-21 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-22 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas
2-23 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
2-24 Brian William Collins.
Palmer
Laney Glaze Moreno of El Paso
Alexander Goodman Morrison
Allen Goolsby Mowery
Alvarado Gray Naishtat
Averitt Green Najera
Bailey Greenberg Nixon
Berman Grusendorf Noriega
Bonnen Gutierrez Oliveira
Bosse Haggerty Olivo
Brimer Hamric Palmer
Brown of Kaufman Hardcastle Pickett
Brown of Brazos Hartnett Pitts
Burnam Hawley Puente
Capelo Heflin Ramsay
Carter Hilbert Rangel
Chavez Hilderbran Reyna of Bexar
Chisum Hill Reyna of Dallas
Christian Hinojosa Ritter
Clark Hochberg Sadler
Coleman Hodge Salinas
Cook Homer Seaman
Corte Hope Shields
Counts Howard Siebert
Crabb Hunter Smith
Craddick Hupp Smithee
Crownover Isett Solis of Cameron
Cuellar Janek Solis of Bexar
Culberson Jones of Brazos Solomons
Danburg Jones of Lubbock Staples
Davis of Harris Jones of Dallas Swinford
Davis of Dallas Junell Talton
Delisi Keel Telford
Denny Keffer Thompson
Deshotel King of Parker Tillery
Driver King of Uvalde Truitt
Dukes Krusee Turner of Coleman
Dunnam Kuempel Turner of Harris
Dutton Lengefeld Uher
Edwards Lewis of Tarrant Uresti
Ehrhardt Lewis of Orange Van de Putte
Eiland Longoria Walker
Elkins Luna West
Ellis McCall Williams
Farabee McClendon Wilson
Farrar McReynolds Wise
Flores Madden Wohlgemuth
Gallego Marchant Wolens
Garcia Maxey Woolley
George Merritt Yarbrough
Giddings Moreno of Harris Zbranek
_______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 237 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on February 22, 1999.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House