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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 100

	WHEREAS, Too often in life our everyday heroes are 
overlooked or overshadowed in the news by the famous or infamous, 
although there is little doubt that these individuals exist, and 
in their brave response to Hurricane Katrina, 111 Texas game 
wardens proved to be just such heroes; and
	WHEREAS, For the first time in its history, the Law 
Enforcement Division of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 
was asked to assist another state, and on August 30, 2005, within 
12 hours of the request, the first of two teams of wardens was 
deployed to Louisiana for search and rescue operations; and
	WHEREAS, From the outset, these dedicated professionals 
faced myriad challenges in simply trying to secure basic 
necessities; they moved twice before they found housing that 
could accommodate them for an indefinite length of time, and they 
had to confront the issues of finding ample fuel and appropriate 
replacement parts for their fleet of vehicles and boats; as these 
supplies were only available well outside of New Orleans, the 
wardens met another challenge in attempting to organize their 
efforts 50 miles from the city; and
	WHEREAS, Further unimaginable obstacles awaited them when 
they arrived in the heart of the devastation; amid massive 
flooding, a heavily damaged infrastructure, looting, periods of 
gunfire, and grim reminders of the event's human toll, teams of 
wardens set out to search for those who were trapped or immobile; 
for 10 days, often working around the clock, they visited 
numerous homes, apartment complexes, hospitals, and other
businesses, rescuing nearly 5,000 hurricane victims along the 
way; and
	WHEREAS, Wardens from across the state, with every level of 
experience, undertook this extraordinary effort with the utmost 
professionalism and commitment; there was no way to prepare them 
for the magnitude of destruction and desperation they would 
encounter, yet through it all, they remained steadfast in their 
determination to assist their fellow Americans; and
	WHEREAS, Contributing to the search and rescue operations 
in New Orleans were the following Texas Game Wardens: Colonel 
Pete Flores, Lieutenant Colonel Craig Hunter, Majors Al Vielma, 
Bill Robinson, Butch Shoop, David Sinclair, Grahame Jones,
Larry Young, Robert Carlson, and Steve Whiteaker, Captains 
Albert Lynch, Danny Shaw, Eddie Tanuz, Fred Churchill, Garry 
Collins, Gary Dugan, Gary Palmer, Gus Sorola, Henry Balderamas, 
James Connally, Larry Hand, Rex Mayes, Rick Gully, Rick Medford, 
Robert Goodrich, Scott Krueger, and W. J. Rawls, Lieutenant Scott 
Jurk, Sergeant Game Wardens Adam Chrane and Johnny Longoria, and 
Game Wardens Alan Biggerstaff, Albert Flores, Andrew Ozuna, 
Arthur Lawrence, Bill Jones, Billy Lucio, Bobby Strickland,
Brad Meloni, Brannon Meinkowsky, Brent Isom, Brent Whitus, Buddy 
Mills, Calvin Harbaugh, Chad Jones, Chip Daigle, Chris Davis, 
Chris Stautzenberger, Chuck Cotton, Chuck Ford, Dale Moses, Dale 
Waters, Danny Tuggle, David Chavez, David Heard, Dennis Gazaway, 
Derek Iden, Don Jackson, Ellis Powell, Fred Ruiz, Gary Barnes,


Gary Cain, Gary Hobbs, Gary Miller, Heath Bragg, Hector Gonzalez, 
Ira Zuniga, J. C. Flores, Jason McFall, Jay Oyler, Jerry Ash, 
Jesse Garcia, Jim Bob Van Dyke, Jim Lindeman, Jimmy Woolley, John 
Thorne, Jon Brauchle, Josh Koenig, Justin Eddins, Karen Simmons, 
Ken Jackson, Kerry Peterson, Kevin Stancik, Kirk Jenkins, Kirk 
Permenter, Lane Pinckney, Leroy Polnick, Luett McMahen, Mark 
Blount, Mark Chapa, Marty Martin, Marvin Wills, Michael Jaramillo,
Michael McCall, Mike Hoffmann, Mike Morse, Mike Wheat, Neal 
McCarn, Phillip Wood, Quint Balkcom, Ramiro Coronado, Randall 
Brown, Raul Gonzales, Rick Lane, Rip Fluitt, Shane Lewis,
Shawn Moore, Stephen Barbour, Tom Carbone, Tom Gallenbach,
Tony Norton, and Zak Benge; and
	WHEREAS, Heroism takes many forms, from selflessly 
responding during a crisis to volunteering for military service, 
and these hard-working Texas game wardens have demonstrated 
through their actions that they too are members of this special 
group of people on whom others can rely; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
79th Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby commend these 111 
Texas game wardens for their mighty search and rescue efforts 
following Hurricane Katrina and extend to them deep appreciation 
for their exemplary actions; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be 
prepared for these individuals as an expression of high regard 
from the Texas Senate.
                                                                           Estes




________________________________ 
    President of the Senate
 
    I hereby certify that the 
above Resolution was adopted by 
the Senate on May 1, 2006.



________________________________ 
    Secretary of the Senate



________________________________ 
     Member, Texas Senate