2019 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 253
BY SENATORS ERDEY AND W HITE
A RESOLUTION
To commend Bill Porche upon his retirement as chief of the Central Fire Department.
WHEREAS, the citizens and the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana have learned
of the retirement of Central Fire Chief Bill Porche; and
WHEREAS, Bill Porche joined the Central Fire Department as a volunteer in 1979,
became a full-time firefighter in 1988, and has been the fire chief since 1996; and
WHEREAS, for over twenty-three years Bill Porche served with great passion as the
fire chief for the Central Fire Department and he announced his retirement in December of
2018 after thirty-nine years of dedicated service; and
WHEREAS, Bill Porche is a valued citizen of Louisiana and was a constant thread
of stability and a highly respected leader who helped save lives, build, and renovate fire
stations and facilities during his time as fire chief; and
WHEREAS, for thirty-nine years in public service as a firefighter, Bill Porche
faithfully served the citizens of Central, and even after his retirement, the Central Fire
Department will continue to benefit from this extraordinary man's legacy and leadership; and
WHEREAS, Chief Porche and the other valorous firefighters of the Central Fire
Department risked their own personal safety and sacrificed time away from their families
in order to provide invaluable aid to those who require their vital services, not only during
fires, but also during horrific disasters; and
WHEREAS, during the flood of 2016 and its initial aftermath, Fire Chief Porche and
the valiant firefighters of the Central Fire Department mobilized in a highly effective manner
to meet the needs of the Central residents and the citizens of the state of Louisiana; and
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WHEREAS, the devastation of this flood created an unprecedented need for
assistance in Central and in Louisiana and that assistance was heroically met by Fire Chief
Porche and the Central Fire Department; and
WHEREAS, the former Mayor of Central, Jr. Shelton, who was responsible for
emergency preparedness, credits Chief Porche with being his mentor and guide; and
WHEREAS, many of these public servants lost everything, their homes and all of
their belongings, and some were separated from their families, and they still performed
professionally with dedication and strength; and
WHEREAS, operating tirelessly under intense levels of stress and fatigue, these
intrepid individuals were on the scene day after day, working with their hands and hearts to
provide services to those who suffered so profoundly; and
WHEREAS, the skills, expertise, and resources of dedicated leaders like
Chief Porche have been an invaluable part of the rescue, recovery, and rebuilding efforts in
Central, and all over Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, because of his numerous years of public service as the Fire Chief of
Central, Bill Porche has certainly earned eternal respect and admiration for his unwavering
endeavor to preserve life and property, he certainly merits a special measure of
commendation for his remarkable selflessness, bravery, and courage.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby commend Central Fire Chief Bill Porche for his outstanding years of public
service and does hereby extend enduring appreciation for his courage, bravery, and steadfast
commitment to the citizens of Central and to the state of Louisiana and wish him much
success on his retirement and with all his future endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Bill Porche.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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