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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Billy Parker is retiring as director of the Texas |
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A&M Engineering Extension Service's Texas Task Force 1 on March 31, |
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2015; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Parker began his long and distinguished career |
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in public service in 1976, when he became a firefighter for the |
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Clyde Fire Department; he went on to join the Texas A&M Engineering |
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Extension Service, a state agency that trains public safety workers |
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and provides emergency responders during large-scale crises; |
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there, he helped establish the new Regional Texas Task Force System |
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and develop an expansive and comprehensive training facility called |
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Disaster City; in addition, he acted as chief of the TEEX Recruit |
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Academy and oversaw the training of more than 1,500 fire cadets; and |
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WHEREAS, Widely recognized as an expert in search and rescue, |
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Mr. Parker also played a key role in the growth of the agency's |
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Texas Task Force 1 from a small advisory board to one of the most |
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called-upon rescue teams in the country; as a member of the task |
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force, he was deployed during several prominent state and national |
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disasters, including the A&M bonfire collapse, the World Trade |
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Center attack, and Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Ike; he was named |
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director of Texas Task Force 1 in 2012; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Parker received the TEEX Distinguished Service |
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Award in 2005 and the Regents Fellow Service Award from The Texas |
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A&M University System Board of Regents the following year; and |
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WHEREAS, An engaged member of his community, Mr. Parker has |
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served as a volunteer firefighter, a paramedic, and a girls' |
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softball coach; he has also been a valued congregant of Hillcrest |
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Baptist Church for more than 22 years; and |
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WHEREAS, Through his loyalty, integrity, and unwavering |
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commitment to the safety and well-being of his fellow Texans, Billy |
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Parker has set a standard of leadership and service to which others |
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may aspire, and he may reflect with pride on a career well spent; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Billy Parker on his retirement from |
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the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service and extend to him |
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sincere best wishes for continued success and happiness; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Parker as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |