SRC-SEW S.C.R. 18 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.C.R. 18
2001S0259/1  01/23/01By: Whitmire
Intergovernmental Relations
2/5/2001
As Filed


DIGEST

The Texas Legislature joins the citizens of Houston in paying tribute to
the 1,200 Houston firefighters who served their city faithfully and are now
deceased and to the 56 courageous firefighters who lost their lies in the
line of duty.  The tradition of paying tribute to Houston firefighters
began over 160 years ago; today, there are over 3,000 active firefighters
and almost 1,600 retired firefighters who have earned the title of Unsung
Heroes of Houston.  Over the generations, the City of Houston Firefighters
have served their community.  The organization was first a volunteer bucket
brigade named Protection No. 1, and in 1895 it became the Houston Fire
Department, a fully paid professional organization.  In the early 1900s,
the Houston firefighters used triple horsepower to pull a water tower and
later progressed to an American La France Engine and then to pumpers.
Currently, the firefighters use EOne pumpers that provide 2,700 gallons of
water per minute, and they use trucks with 100-foot aerial ladders for help
in rescues.  On March 9, 2001, the dedication of the Memorial Garden to the
Houston firefighters takes place.  At the garden, a granite Wall of Honor
lists every deceased firefighter of the Houston Firefighter Department.
The central focus of the Memorial Garden is a bronze sculpture by Houston
artist and sculptor David Adickes.  The Memorial Garden is a fitting
tribute to the early days of the Houston Firefighter Department and to the
remarkable courage and hard work of all those firefighters of Houston's
past. 

 PURPOSE 

As proposed, S.C.R. 18 submits the following resolutions:

Provides that the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas commend the
Houston firefighters on their invaluable service and many contributions to
their city and that a copy of this resolution be prepared for the Houston
Firefighters' Memorial Garden as an expression of esteem and gratitude from
the Texas Legislature.