By Palmer                                              H.R. No. 237
         76R7126 JHS-D                           
                                 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.