87R21332 JGH-D
 
  By: Toth H.R. No. 905
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
         WHEREAS, Deputy Chief Jerry Bittner retired from The
  Woodlands Fire Department on April 1, 2021, drawing to a close an
  outstanding career with the department that spanned four decades;
  and
         WHEREAS, The longest serving employee of TWFD and The
  Woodlands Township, Chief Bittner first joined the department as a
  recruit in July 1981; rising steadily through the ranks, he earned
  promotions to firefighter 3rd class, chauffeur, lieutenant, and
  shift captain; in 1990, he was appointed captain of Support
  Services, and since 1996, he has served as deputy chief, including
  five months as acting chief; he is retiring as deputy chief of
  training and EMS; and
         WHEREAS, Over the course of his exemplary 40-year tenure with
  the department, Chief Bittner helped design and manage the
  construction of the department's headquarters and central fire
  station as well as the Emergency Training Center and Stations 3, 4,
  5, 6, 7, and 8; he also oversaw the renovation of Fire Station 2, and
  from 1996 to 2017, he chaired the apparatus committee and was
  responsible for managing the acquisition of the department's
  current fleet of vehicles; and
         WHEREAS, One of Chief Bittner's most significant
  achievements was the consolidation of a patchwork of fire dispatch
  systems into one system managed by The Woodlands Fire Department;
  the new cohesive system allows for close cooperation with 12
  Montgomery County fire departments and the Montgomery County
  Hospital District, ensuring residents of The Woodlands a rapid
  response and a state-of-the-art 9-1-1 system; and
         WHEREAS, Chief Bittner's dedication, encyclopedic knowledge
  of the department, and commitment to excellence have greatly
  benefited the citizens of The Woodlands and earned him the respect
  and admiration of his fellow firefighters, and he may indeed
  reflect with pride on a career well spent as he embarks on the next
  exciting chapter of his life; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas
  Legislature hereby congratulate Deputy Chief Jerry Bittner on his
  retirement from The Woodlands Fire Department and extend to him
  sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
  prepared for Chief Bittner as an expression of high regard by the
  Texas House of Representatives.