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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Round Rock Volunteer Fire Department disbanded |
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in January 2007, bringing to a close more than a century of |
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exceptional community service; and |
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WHEREAS, This historic organization was founded by the |
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citizens of Round Rock in 1884, following two devastating fires |
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that laid waste to a private school and the Round Rock Institute; |
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the department purchased a hand-drawn hand pumper and the land for |
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its first firehouse in 1891, and by 1907, the Ladder Wagon company |
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was formed; and |
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WHEREAS, The ensuing years brought with them many changes and |
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several significant "firsts" for the RRVFD; its first new fire |
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truck, a Ford Pumper, was acquired in 1938, and the department's |
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dispatch became the earliest facility in Round Rock to be open 24 |
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hours a day; the RRVFD saw another historical happening at the dawn |
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of World War II, when an all-female firefighting group, the Ladies |
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Pumper Team, was established; its members proved their abilities |
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throughout the war, ably responding to all alarms and winning |
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championship honors at a state firefighting competition; and |
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WHEREAS, As the 20th century progressed, the first paid |
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personnel were hired and two additional departments, the Jollyville |
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Volunteer Fire Department and the Sam Bass Fire Department, were |
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organized as part of the RRVFD; the department split to form the |
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Round Rock Fire Department in 1982, and the members of the RRVFD |
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continued to serve their own portions of the rapidly growing |
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community; and |
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WHEREAS, For 123 years, the Round Rock Volunteer Fire |
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Department was a symbol of safety and security, and its many |
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outstanding members demonstrated an inspiring level of bravery and |
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self-sacrifice; the institution earned its place in the annals of |
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its community, and it will not soon be forgotten; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor the Round Rock Volunteer Fire Department |
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for its more than 12 decades of service to its community and |
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recognize all who served in this exceptional organization for their |
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contributions to their fellow citizens. |