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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The year 2009 marks the 100th anniversary of the |
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founding of the Midland Fire Department, and this milestone |
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provides a fitting opportunity to pay tribute to this notable |
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organization; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1909, in response to two disastrous downtown |
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fires, a small group of volunteers formed the department to help |
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protect the lives and property of the townspeople; initially, the |
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firefighters used a single, small hose cart that they pulled from |
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place to place; nonetheless, the Midland Fire Department quickly |
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proved itself an essential public safety organization, and in 1919 |
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Luther Tidwell was appointed as its first chief; and |
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WHEREAS, Midland's population outgrew the service capacity |
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of a volunteer force in the years following World War II, and in |
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1948 James D. Walker, the second fire chief of Midland, became the |
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city's first professional firefighter; shortly afterward, the |
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volunteer force became a fully paid department; and |
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WHEREAS, With the passing decades, the department has taken |
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on new duties; in 1972, it began providing emergency medical |
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service to area citizens, and it also handles hazardous materials |
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incidents as well as responding to a wide range of rescue |
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situations; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, under the direction of chief Russ Conley, the |
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Midland Fire Department employs nearly 200 highly trained personnel |
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and staffs nine stations to serve an area of 900 square miles; as |
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this proud organization begins its second century of operations, it |
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continues to seek new ways to further improve the vital services it |
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provides to the residents of Midland, and its members may take |
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justifiable pride in carrying forth the department's tradition of |
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excellence; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor the Midland Fire Department for its 100 |
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years of service to the community and extend to all those involved |
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with the department sincere best wishes for continued success; and, |
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be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the department as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |
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Craddick |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 2400 was adopted by the House on May |
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28, 2009, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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