SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 203

WHEREAS, The Pasadena Volunteer Fire Department has served the city and surrounding communities for more than eight decades, and it is indeed fitting to recognize the enormous contributions of this noteworthy organization; and

WHEREAS, The largest single-municipality, all-volunteer fire department in the United States, the Pasadena Volunteer Fire Department was founded in 1930 with an initial membership of 25 firefighters; today, its ranks include more than 200 active firefighters and 50 semi-active firefighters who dedicate themselves to the safety and security of their fellow citizens; and

WHEREAS, The Pasadena Volunteer Fire Department has mutual aid agreements with all of its neighboring cities and many other nearby municipal and industrial fire departments and responds to approximately 170 alarms per month in its almost 60-square-mile service area; it provides mutual aid protection to Ellington Field, NASA's Johnson Space Center, and the University of Houston-Clear Lake, and it is an active member of the Channel Industries Mutual Aid organization, which responds to emergencies at petrochemical plants and refineries in the region; moreover, the department is the parent organization to the Pasadena Fire Marshal's Office, which handles inspections, fire prevention, and cause and origin investigations; and

WHEREAS, Since 2006, the department has benefited from the able guidance of Chief Lanny Armstrong; his strong leadership team includes assistant chief Richard Lawhorn and district chiefs Granville Brasfield, Frank Butler, Dana Jenkins, Michael Kainer, Bill Moon, Dwight Ottele, Steve Owen, and John Stokes; and

WHEREAS, The courageous firefighters serving and protecting Pasadena residents over the past 81 years have set the highest standards of excellence, and their department is a source of tremendous pride to the community; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 82nd Legislature, hereby honor the Pasadena Volunteer Fire Department and extend to its members sincere best wishes for continued success in their important work; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be prepared for the department as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate. Jackson

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on February 9, 2011.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate