R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The untimely passing of Frisco Assistant Fire Chief
 1-2     Gary Burns on September 22, 1999, at the age of 43, was a loss not
 1-3     only to his family and his fellow firefighters but to the entire
 1-4     community as well; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, Born on August 25, 1956, in Port Arthur to James and
 1-6     Gerry Burns, this esteemed Texan exemplified in his personal and
 1-7     professional conduct the virtues of courage, integrity, and
 1-8     unwavering dedication, and his commitment to his fellow
 1-9     firefighters, as well as to the people he served, earned him the
1-10     respect of all who knew him; and
1-11           WHEREAS, Assistant Fire Chief Burns joined the Frisco Fire
1-12     Department in 1988, when he participated in the first Frisco Fire
1-13     Academy; he and his wife, the former Linda Hammonds, were two of
1-14     the city's first fire department personnel to attend paramedic
1-15     school; and
1-16           WHEREAS, He generously served his community with his personal
1-17     time as well as on the job; he was a charter member of the Frisco
1-18     Rotary Club, a former city council member, and the longtime owner
1-19     and operator of Frisco's Snap-E-Jack convenience store; in
1-20     addition, he was a congregant of First Baptist Church of Frisco, a
1-21     Master Mason, and a 32nd-Degree Scottish Rite Mason; and
1-22           WHEREAS, Those who were privileged to share his friendship
1-23     and wisdom will long miss his presence, and his legacy of public
1-24     service will live on for many years to come; now, therefore, be it
 2-1           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
 2-2     Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Gary Burns and extend
 2-3     deepest sympathy to the members of his family:  to his wife, Linda
 2-4     Burns; to his daughters, Crystal Sherilyn Burns and Kristen Ashley
 2-5     Burns; to his stepson, Billy Scott Buckaloo; to his mother, Gerry
 2-6     Burns; to his sister, Cindy Burns Hooks; and to all of his many
 2-7     other friends and relatives; and, be it further
 2-8           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
 2-9     prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas
2-10     House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
2-11     Gary Burns.
                                                                      Madden
                                             _______________________________
                                                   Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.R. No. 550 was unanimously adopted by a
         rising vote of the House on April 20, 2001.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House