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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, In recognition of a heroic act he performed over 44 |
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years ago, former firefighter Ray Wells was honored when the mayor |
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of Waco declared February 9, 2015, as Ray Wells Day at a ceremony at |
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Waco Fire Station No. 1; and |
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WHEREAS, During the early 1970s, at the age of 26, Mr. Wells |
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was a member of the Waco Fire Department for a year and a half; at |
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eight o'clock in the morning of November 11, 1970, he came across a |
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house trailer with smoke pouring out of it, and he heard a woman |
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screaming that her daughters, ages one and three years old, were in |
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the trailer; and |
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WHEREAS, Although he was off duty at the time, Mr. Wells |
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rushed through the trailer's back door and crawled on his hands and |
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knees through the smoke and flames until he found the two children |
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lying unconscious on the floor of a back bedroom; he pulled them |
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from the trailer and discovered that they weren't breathing, so he |
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helped perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on each child; they |
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were rushed in the back of a patrol car to a local hospital, where |
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the girls were treated for smoke inhalation and minor burns and |
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released; and |
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WHEREAS, Now 71 years old and living in Temple, Mr. Wells was |
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reunited at the event in Waco with the two women he rescued more |
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than four decades ago; now in their 40s, Geni Burkhart and Tamara |
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Vetere traveled from their homes in Denver in order to surprise him |
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at the ceremony and thank him at long last for saving their lives; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, On that fateful day more than 44 years ago, Ray Wells |
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demonstrated tremendous courage and compassion in a desperate |
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situation, giving two women the greatest gift of all, a second |
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chance at life; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Ray Wells for his remarkable heroism and |
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extend to him sincere best wishes for continued happiness; and, be |
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it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Wells as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |