| 2 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 3 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
|---|
| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, A life made rich through meaningful service drew to |
|---|
| 6 | 7 | | a close with the passing of Michael Wayne Higgins, the chief of |
|---|
| 7 | 8 | | staff for the Texas State Association of Fire Fighters, on March 2, |
|---|
| 8 | 9 | | 2015, at the age of 59; and |
|---|
| 9 | 10 | | WHEREAS, Born on October 15, 1955, Mike Higgins embarked on |
|---|
| 10 | 11 | | his career in public safety in 1978, when he became a firefighter |
|---|
| 11 | 12 | | and paramedic for the Sherman Fire Department; he joined the staff |
|---|
| 12 | 13 | | of the Texas State Association of Fire Fighters in 1988, and for |
|---|
| 13 | 14 | | nearly three decades, he served as an advocate for firefighters |
|---|
| 14 | 15 | | throughout the state; and |
|---|
| 15 | 16 | | WHEREAS, In his work as the TSAFF's chief of staff, Mr. |
|---|
| 16 | 17 | | Higgins tirelessly defended the health, safety, and well-being of |
|---|
| 17 | 18 | | his fellow firefighters; he negotiated labor contracts, |
|---|
| 18 | 19 | | represented firefighter rights in arbitration, and lobbied for |
|---|
| 19 | 20 | | safer equipment and working conditions; despite his reputation for |
|---|
| 20 | 21 | | being tough, he earned the respect and friendship of generations of |
|---|
| 21 | 22 | | public officials; and |
|---|
| 22 | 23 | | WHEREAS, In 2005, his determined efforts helped lead to the |
|---|
| 23 | 24 | | adoption of the Sean McKinnis Charitable Solicitation Act, which |
|---|
| 24 | 25 | | allows firefighters to collect money on street corners throughout |
|---|
| 25 | 26 | | the state in behalf of the Muscular Dystrophy Association; |
|---|
| 26 | 27 | | moreover, Mr. Higgins assisted in the passage of similar laws in |
|---|
| 27 | 28 | | California, Illinois, Florida, and other states; and |
|---|
| 28 | 29 | | WHEREAS, A devoted family man, Mr. Higgins enjoyed the love |
|---|
| 29 | 30 | | and support of his wife, Peggy, and their three children; and |
|---|
| 30 | 31 | | WHEREAS, Throughout a career in public safety that spanned 37 |
|---|
| 31 | 32 | | years, Mike Higgins upheld the highest standards of his profession, |
|---|
| 32 | 33 | | and he leaves behind a record of achievement that his loved ones can |
|---|
| 33 | 34 | | remember with pride; now, therefore, be it |
|---|
| 34 | 35 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
|---|
| 35 | 36 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Michael Wayne Higgins |
|---|
| 36 | 37 | | and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his |
|---|
| 37 | 38 | | wife, Peggy; to their three children; and to his other relatives and |
|---|
| 38 | 39 | | many friends and colleagues; and, be it further |
|---|
| 39 | 40 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|---|
| 40 | 41 | | prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
|---|
| 41 | 42 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Mike |
|---|
| 42 | 43 | | Higgins. |
|---|