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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Chief J. P. Steelman of the Longview Fire Department |
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was appointed chair of the Texas Commission on Fire Protection by |
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Governor Greg Abbott in March 2021; and |
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WHEREAS, A firefighter since 1985, J. P. Steelman joined the |
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Longview Fire Department in 1990; he was promoted to |
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driver/engineer in 1998, and in 2000, he was transferred to the |
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Training Division as a training/safety officer; he returned to |
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Operations in 2003 with a promotion to captain, and he was appointed |
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senior captain in 2006 and battalion chief in 2007; he was named |
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city fire chief in 2010; and |
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WHEREAS, Throughout his exemplary 30-year tenure with the |
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department, Chief Steelman has been active with the Water |
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Rescue/Dive Team, the Hazmat/Special Operations Team, the |
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Recruiting Team, and the Hiring Board, and he is a charter member of |
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the Honor Guard; a licensed paramedic, he has earned numerous |
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certifications, including the Executive Fire Officer certification |
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from the National Fire Academy and the Certified Fire Executive |
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designation from the Texas Fire Chiefs Academy; and |
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WHEREAS, A statewide leader in his profession, Chief Steelman |
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served on the Firefighter Advisory Committee of the Texas |
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Commission on Fire Protection from 2007 to 2017, when he was |
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appointed as a commissioner; he has served as regional director for |
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the Northeast Region of the Texas Fire Chiefs Association and as a |
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member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the Texas |
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Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System, the Texas Emergency Management |
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Assistance Team, the East Texas Council of Governments Homeland |
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Security Advisory Committee, and Texas A&M Task Force 1; since |
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1996, he has taught at the Kilgore College Fire Academy, where he |
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earned an associate's degree in the area of fire protection |
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technology and fire protection certification; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Steelman has also found time to give back to his |
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community as a member and former president of the Longview-Greggton |
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Rotary Club and through his service on the board of SeeSaw |
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Children's Place and the citizen's advisory panel for the Sabine |
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Industrial District; in all his endeavors, he enjoys the love and |
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support of his wife, Becky, and their four children; and |
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WHEREAS, Chief Steelman's dedication, expertise, and |
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commitment to the safety of the public have greatly benefited the |
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citizens of his city and his state, and he may indeed reflect with |
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pride on his many achievements as he takes on the challenges and |
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opportunities of his prestigious new position; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend Chief J. P. Steelman on his appointment |
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as chair of the Texas Commission on Fire Protection and extend to |
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him sincere best wishes for a successful tenure; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Chief Steelman as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |