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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A life marked by tremendous courage and resolve came |
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to an untimely end with the passing of William Dowling, a former |
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captain in the Houston Fire Department, on March 7, 2017, at the age |
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of 43; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on March 14, 1973, |
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Bill Dowling was the son of Mary and Rick Dowling; he moved with his |
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family to Texas in his youth and graduated from Klein Oak High |
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School in Spring in 1993; after joining the United States Marine |
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Corps, he advanced to the rank of corporal and served in a number of |
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locations, including Somalia, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia; his |
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military awards included a Combat Action Ribbon, a Good Conduct |
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Medal, a Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, a National Defense |
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Service Medal, a Southwest Asia Service Medal, and a Sea Service |
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Deployment Ribbon; and |
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WHEREAS, Imbued with a passion for public service, Bill |
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Dowling pursued a career as a firefighter after returning to |
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civilian life; he joined the Champions Fire Department and then, in |
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2000, the Houston Fire Department, where he rose through the ranks |
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while working in some of the city's busiest stations; his years on |
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the job were made all the more fulfilling by the strong bond of |
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camaraderie that he shared with his brothers and sisters in |
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uniform; and |
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WHEREAS, Captain Dowling demonstrated the true depth of his |
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commitment to duty as one of the first responders who were called to |
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battle a massive five-alarm fire at the Southwest Inn on May 31, |
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2013, the deadliest day in the history of the Houston Fire |
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Department; when the roof of the hotel collapsed, he lost four of |
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his comrades and sustained life-altering injuries, which forced him |
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to retire from the career he loved; and |
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WHEREAS, This inspiring Texan earned the nickname "Iron Bill" |
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during his long, valiant effort to recover in the four years after |
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he left the department; he drew comfort and encouragement from the |
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love of his wife of 23 years, Jacki, and their treasured children, |
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Forrest, Faith, and Foster; in the course of his struggles, his |
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faith became a guiding light, and he took pride in having read every |
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page of the Bible; and |
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WHEREAS, Captain Bill Dowling found his purpose in serving a |
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cause greater than himself, and when tragedy cast a shadow over his |
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future, his determination and bravery in fighting back captured the |
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hearts of countless people; he will be greatly missed by his family, |
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friends, and former colleagues, who will never forget his sacrifice |
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or the extraordinary strength of character that defined his life; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of William Dowling and |
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extend sincere condolences to all those who mourn his passing; 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 his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of William |
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Dowling. |