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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Palacios Volunteer Fire Department marked 100 |
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years of safeguarding the lives and property of area residents in |
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December 2012; and |
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WHEREAS, In late 1912, the Palacios City Council approved the |
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constitution and bylaws for a fire company and authorized the |
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purchase of one 230-foot extension fire ladder, two 12-foot roof |
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ladders, and two pick-back fire axes; when a call for help came in, |
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firemen would be alerted by an employee of the Coast Telephone |
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Company, who would ring a bell outside her second-story window; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the years, the Palacios VFD modernized to |
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accommodate the changing needs of the day, and by 1927 it had a new |
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fire truck and the old fire bell had been replaced by an electric |
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siren; by 1941, the city ordered a fire truck that carried its own |
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water; in 1962, it purchased a four-wheel drive truck to allow the |
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firefighters to better combat rural and urban grass fires; and in |
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1976, the department received a state-of-the-art ambulance; and |
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WHEREAS, Although technology and equipment have changed |
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markedly in the past century, the department's volunteers remain |
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its most vital resource, and many brave and dedicated individuals |
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have served over the years, including Hugh Dismukes, who, in 1975, |
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was recognized for 50 years of active service, more than any fireman |
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in the Lone Star State at the time; today 20 volunteers continue to |
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support their community, raising funds and volunteering their time |
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and skills for important local causes; and |
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WHEREAS, Under the direction of fire chief Mike Hooper and |
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assistant fire chief Rodney Girndt, the Palacios Volunteer Fire |
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Department is beginning its second century of operations, and its |
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members may indeed take justifiable pride in the vital work they |
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perform and in their department's notable history; now, therefore, |
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be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate the Palacios Volunteer Fire |
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Department on its 100th anniversary and pay tribute to all those who |
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are or have been associated with this venerable organization; 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. |