R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The retirement of Joseph L. Stone, Jr., director of
1-2 the Division of Emergency Management Preparedness, concludes an
1-3 eventful 12-year career at the Texas Department of Health helping
1-4 Texans prepare for and recover from a myriad of natural and manmade
1-5 emergencies; and
1-6 WHEREAS, Born May 22, 1935, in Alabama, Mr. Stone received
1-7 his Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education from the University of
1-8 Arizona in 1957 and joined the U.S. Air Force where he received a
1-9 Master of Science in Logistic Management from the Air Force
1-10 Institute of Technology in 1967; and
1-11 WHEREAS, During the 26 years Mr. Stone served in the
1-12 military, he spent 20 years in some aspect of emergency management,
1-13 including stints as a disaster response instructor, air police
1-14 officer, logistics planner, combat crew commander, and finally as
1-15 the Senior Commander of Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota;
1-16 in this post, he was responsible for the operational mission of the
1-17 6,500 employees and emergency preparedness of the largest base of
1-18 the Strategic Air Command; and
1-19 WHEREAS, While serving in the military, he also was blessed
1-20 with the birth of three children, Joe, Jerry, and Faith; another
1-21 daughter, Crystal, was born in 1984 following his retirement from
1-22 the U.S. Air Force; he then became a full-time domestic engineer
1-23 and primary caregiver for Crystal; and
1-24 WHEREAS, Mr. Stone chose Texas as his permanent home and in
2-1 1987 became the director of the division of the Disaster Response
2-2 Program of the Texas Department of Health; under his dynamic
2-3 leadership, the Disaster Response Program was transformed into a
2-4 division on the cutting edge of modern emergency management; and
2-5 WHEREAS, Recognizing the need to consolidate the agency's
2-6 emergency response mechanism, he created the TDH Coordinating
2-7 Council and established the TDH Emergency Support Center as the
2-8 primary control point for state-level health and medical response
2-9 activities, including the flooding in Southeast Texas in 1994,
2-10 widespread forest fires in 1996, the Jarrell tornado in 1997 and
2-11 the deadly statewide heat wave, and the floods that struck Del Rio
2-12 and Central Texas in 1998; and
2-13 WHEREAS, He was the driving force behind the Critical
2-14 Incident Stress Management Program that helps emergency responders
2-15 from Texas as well as those in neighboring states, such as
2-16 firefighters in Oklahoma City after the Murrah Building bombing, to
2-17 handle emotionally the tragic events they encounter; and
2-18 WHEREAS, Mr. Stone has received a number of accolades for his
2-19 outstanding service, including the USAF Resource Conservation
2-20 Program Award, the Bureau Chief's Award, and a letter of
2-21 commendation from the governor of Texas; and
2-22 WHEREAS, Throughout his career, Mr. Stone has helped
2-23 thousands of Texans and residents of neighboring states survive and
2-24 recover from natural and manmade disasters and is truly worthy of
2-25 special recognition for his efforts; now, therefore, be it
2-26 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
2-27 Legislature hereby pay tribute to Joseph L. Stone, Jr., for a
3-1 distinguished and productive career at the Texas Department of
3-2 Health and extend to him sincere best wishes for a fulfilling and
3-3 satisfying retirement; and, be it further
3-4 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-5 prepared for Mr. Stone as an expression of high regard by the Texas
3-6 House of Representatives.
Maxey
_______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1373 was adopted by the House on May
31, 1999, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House