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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Jake Shea Jenkins of the Lubbock Fire Department |
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passed away on March 27, 2011, at the age of 40, bringing a great |
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loss to the community and to his family, fellow firefighters, and |
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many friends; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Rockdale on September 30, 1970, Mr. Jenkins |
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was the son of Kirby and Dorothy Jenkins; he demonstrated musical |
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aptitude as a small child singing at family gatherings, and when a |
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fifth-grade teacher encouraged him to take up an instrument, his |
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father made him a banjo; at ease with any stringed instrument, he |
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mastered the guitar, mandolin, and upright bass as well; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Jenkins studied bluegrass music at South Plains |
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College and became a certified luthier; after graduating in 1992, |
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he worked at Collings Guitars in Austin and played banjo on a |
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part-time basis with the Karl Shiflett and Big Country Show; he |
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began touring the country as a full-time member of the band in 1996 |
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and helped shape its sound with his Western-tinged style; in |
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addition, he wrote the group's No. 1 bluegrass hit "Worries on My |
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Mind," which also reached the top 10 on the Texas music charts, and |
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he penned the popular songs "Cold, Cold Love" and "Turn Around"; and |
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WHEREAS, On December 14, 1996, he married Rhonda Smith, and |
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the couple later became the parents of three treasured children, |
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Eli, Maggie, and Ella; although Mr. Jenkins gave up touring with his |
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band to spend more time with his young family, he continued to share |
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his musical gifts as a member of the group Hickory Hill; and |
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WHEREAS, This multitalented Texan completed state training |
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at South Plains College Fire Academy in 2004 and joined the Lubbock |
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Fire Department in January 2005; promoted to equipment operator in |
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2008, he drove fire engine No. 14 and was a certified rescue diver |
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and member of the dive rescue team; his dedication, |
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professionalism, and natural exuberance won the admiration and |
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affection of his colleagues; and |
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WHEREAS, An avid outdoorsman, Mr. Jenkins served as a hunting |
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guide and enjoyed boating, fishing, gardening, and repairing |
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vintage trucks and recreational vehicles; he especially loved |
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tinkering with his plane and piloting it to work or to performances |
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from his home in Dickens, and he was in the process of building a log |
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cabin; and |
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WHEREAS, Jake Jenkins was devoted to his family and his |
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community, and he brought joy and laughter to innumerable people; |
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although his life ended far too soon, those he left behind will |
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forever treasure their memories of time spent in his company; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Jake Shea Jenkins and |
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extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his |
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wife, Rhonda Jenkins; to his children, Eli Jenkins, Maggie Marie |
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Jenkins, and Ella Rose Jenkins; to his brother, Jason Jenkins; and |
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to his many other relatives and friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Jake Shea |
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Jenkins. |