H.R. No. 2400
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The year 2009 marks the 100th anniversary of the
founding of the Midland Fire Department, and this milestone
provides a fitting opportunity to pay tribute to this notable
organization; and
WHEREAS, In 1909, in response to two disastrous downtown
fires, a small group of volunteers formed the department to help
protect the lives and property of the townspeople; initially, the
firefighters used a single, small hose cart that they pulled from
place to place; nonetheless, the Midland Fire Department quickly
proved itself an essential public safety organization, and in 1919
Luther Tidwell was appointed as its first chief; and
WHEREAS, Midland's population outgrew the service capacity
of a volunteer force in the years following World War II, and in
1948 James D. Walker, the second fire chief of Midland, became the
city's first professional firefighter; shortly afterward, the
volunteer force became a fully paid department; and
WHEREAS, With the passing decades, the department has taken
on new duties; in 1972, it began providing emergency medical
service to area citizens, and it also handles hazardous materials
incidents as well as responding to a wide range of rescue
situations; and
WHEREAS, Today, under the direction of chief Russ Conley, the
Midland Fire Department employs nearly 200 highly trained personnel
and staffs nine stations to serve an area of 900 square miles; as
this proud organization begins its second century of operations, it
continues to seek new ways to further improve the vital services it
provides to the residents of Midland, and its members may take
justifiable pride in carrying forth the department's tradition of
excellence; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby honor the Midland Fire Department for its 100
years of service to the community and extend to all those involved
with the department sincere best wishes for continued success; and,
be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the department as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.
Craddick
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 2400 was adopted by the House on May
28, 2009, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House