H.R. No. 948

	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, A life marked by tremendous courage and resolve came
	to an untimely end with the passing of William Dowling, a former
	captain in the Houston Fire Department, on March 7, 2017, at the age
	of 43; and
	WHEREAS, Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on March 14, 1973,
	Bill Dowling was the son of Mary and Rick Dowling; he moved with his
	family to Texas in his youth and graduated from Klein Oak High
	School in Spring in 1993; after joining the United States Marine
	Corps, he advanced to the rank of corporal and served in a number of
	locations, including Somalia, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia; his
	military awards included a Combat Action Ribbon, a Good Conduct
	Medal, a Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, a National Defense
	Service Medal, a Southwest Asia Service Medal, and a Sea Service
	Deployment Ribbon; and
	WHEREAS, Imbued with a passion for public service, Bill
	Dowling pursued a career as a firefighter after returning to
	civilian life; he joined the Champions Fire Department and then, in
	2000, the Houston Fire Department, where he rose through the ranks
	while working in some of the city's busiest stations; his years on
	the job were made all the more fulfilling by the strong bond of
	camaraderie that he shared with his brothers and sisters in
	uniform; and
	WHEREAS, Captain Dowling demonstrated the true depth of his
	commitment to duty as one of the first responders who were called to
	battle a massive five-alarm fire at the Southwest Inn on May 31,
	2013, the deadliest day in the history of the Houston Fire
	Department; when the roof of the hotel collapsed, he lost four of
	his comrades and sustained life-altering injuries, which forced him
	to retire from the career he loved; and
	WHEREAS, This inspiring Texan earned the nickname "Iron Bill"
	during his long, valiant effort to recover in the four years after
	he left the department; he drew comfort and encouragement from the
	love of his wife of 23 years, Jacki, and their treasured children,
	Forrest, Faith, and Foster; in the course of his struggles, his
	faith became a guiding light, and he took pride in having read every
	page of the Bible; and
	WHEREAS, Captain Bill Dowling found his purpose in serving a
	cause greater than himself, and when tragedy cast a shadow over his
	future, his determination and bravery in fighting back captured the
	hearts of countless people; he will be greatly missed by his family,
	friends, and former colleagues, who will never forget his sacrifice
	or the extraordinary strength of character that defined his life;
	now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
	Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of William Dowling and
	extend sincere condolences to all those who mourn his passing; and,
	be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
	prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
	Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of William
	Dowling.
	Wu
	Swanson
	Straus Goldman Oliverson
	Allen Gonzales of Williamson Ortega
	Alonzo González of El Paso Paddie
	Alvarado Gooden Parker
	Anchia Guerra Paul
	Anderson of Dallas Guillen Perez
	Anderson of McLennan Gutierrez Phelan
	Arévalo Hefner Phillips
	Ashby Hernandez Pickett
	Bailes Herrero Price
	Bell Hinojosa Raney
	Bernal Holland Raymond
	Biedermann Howard Reynolds
	Blanco Huberty Rinaldi
	Bohac Hunter Roberts
	Bonnen of Brazoria Isaac Rodriguez of Bexar
	Bonnen of Galveston Israel Rodriguez of Travis
	Burkett Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr.
	Burns Johnson of Harris Rose
	Burrows Kacal Sanford
	Button Keough Schaefer
	Cain King of Hemphill Schofield
	Canales King of Parker Schubert
	Capriglione King of Uvalde Shaheen
	Clardy Klick Sheffield
	Coleman Koop Shine
	Collier Krause Simmons
	Cook Kuempel Smithee
	Cortez Lambert Springer
	Cosper Landgraf Stephenson
	Craddick Lang Stickland
	Cyrier Larson Stucky
	Dale Laubenberg Swanson
	Darby Leach Thierry
	Davis of Dallas Longoria Thompson of Brazoria
	Davis of Harris Lozano Thompson of Harris
	Dean Lucio III Tinderholt
	Deshotel Martinez Turner
	Dukes Metcalf Uresti
	Dutton Meyer VanDeaver
	Elkins Miller Villalba
	Faircloth Minjarez Vo
	Fallon Moody Walle
	Farrar Morrison White
	Flynn Muñoz, Jr. Wilson
	Frank Murphy Workman
	Frullo Murr Wray
	Geren Neave Wu
	Gervin-Hawkins Nevárez Zedler
	Giddings Oliveira Zerwas
	______________________________
	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.R. No. 948 was unanimously adopted by a rising
	vote of the House on March 21, 2017.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House