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Regular Session, 2013 ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 79
BY SENATOR LONG AND REPRESENTATI VES BROWN, COX AND HOWARD
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To commend and congratulate Natchitoches Fire Chief Dennie C. Boyt upon his retirement.
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that the Legislature of Louisiana and the citizens
of Louisiana have learned of the much deserved retirement of Natchitoches Fire Chief
Dennie Boyt; and
WHEREAS, Dennie Boyt was born in Natchitoches, Louisiana, on January 26, 1952,
and is a lifelong native of Natchitoches, Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, he is a 1970 graduate of Natchitoches High School, attended
Community College of the Air Force, Louisiana State University-Eunice, and Northwestern
State University; and
WHEREAS, on February 15, 1974, Chief Boyt began his career at the Natchitoches
Fire Department and proceeded to work for the department for the next four decades, serving
in every rank from firefighter to fire chief; and
WHEREAS, on April 17, 2003, Chief Boyt was named fire chief of the Natchitoches
Fire Department and served in that capacity until his retirement on May 1, 2013; and
WHEREAS, one of the priorities of Chief Boyt during his leadership was the
continued professional development of the department's staff; and
WHEREAS, to that end, the department entered into a cooperative endeavor
agreement with the Louisiana Technical College (LTC) for the location of the Natchitoches
Fire Department Training Center to be at LTC's Natchitoches Campus; and
WHEREAS, the Natchitoches Fire Department Training Center offers a curriculum
of firefighting and emergency medical technician and provides training for the employees
of the Natchitoches Fire Department as well as personnel from other fire departments; and
WHEREAS, with the appropriate training readily available, the department initiated
a comprehensive International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) firefighter
certification program that mandated each member of the department be certified equivalent
to his rank; and SCR NO. 79 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, Chief Boyt realized that to truly be successful, the department would
also need investments to be made in technology and equipment; and
WHEREAS, Chief Boyt wrote proposals for numerous grants and the resulting
funding was used to renovate the Central Fire Station as well as purchase updated and
improved firefighting equipment including: a 100-foot aerial apparatus, a rescue vehicle,
three command vehicles, self-contained breathing apparatus, air compressor/cascade system,
700 MHZ radios, urban search and rescue equipment for confined spaces, vehicle extrication
equipment, thermal imaging cameras, and three new fire engines, and the replacement of all
firefighter turnout gear; and
WHEREAS, under Chief Boyt's leadership, the efforts made to improve the training
of personnel and the technology and equipment available resulted in a significant increase
in the department's Public Protection Classification (PPC) which measures a community's
ability to suppress fires, from a Class 3/4 to a Class 2 classification, which is a very
impressive improvement in the PPC that has a positive impact on the availability and price
of property insurance within the jurisdiction; and
WHEREAS, Chief Boyt has stated that it was his goal for the department to be
considered progressive and on the leading edge of fire service; and
WHEREAS, Chief Boyt has met and exceeded his goals for the department and can
enter his retirement knowing he is leaving a well-trained, well-equipped, and professional
department; and
WHEREAS, in addition to his civilian life, Chief Boyt was also a distinguished
member of the United States Air Force Reserve from 1971 to 2003, serving in Operation
Desert Shield/Desert Storm and Operation Noble Eagle/Enduring Freedom and retiring from
his service as a senior master sergeant; and
WHEREAS, after all of his professional accomplishments, Dennie Boyt truly
deserves to spend the rest of his days traveling with the love of his life Joyce, spending
precious time with his children Derek, Angela, Zack, Rick, Rachel, and Aimee, and spoiling
his eleven cherished grandchildren.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
commend and congratulate Natchitoches Fire Chief Dennie Boyt on his numerous SCR NO. 79 ENROLLED
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accomplishments and achievements as fire chief and on his much deserved retirement from
the Natchitoches Fire Department and wishes him success in all his future endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Dennie Boyt.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES