H.R. No. 1972
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, In recognition of a heroic act he performed over 44
years ago, former firefighter Ray Wells was honored when the mayor
of Waco declared February 9, 2015, as Ray Wells Day at a ceremony at
Waco Fire Station No. 1; and
WHEREAS, During the early 1970s, at the age of 26, Mr. Wells
was a member of the Waco Fire Department for a year and a half; at
eight o'clock in the morning of November 11, 1970, he came across a
house trailer with smoke pouring out of it, and he heard a woman
screaming that her daughters, ages one and three years old, were in
the trailer; and
WHEREAS, Although he was off duty at the time, Mr. Wells
rushed through the trailer's back door and crawled on his hands and
knees through the smoke and flames until he found the two children
lying unconscious on the floor of a back bedroom; he pulled them
from the trailer and discovered that they weren't breathing, so he
helped perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on each child; they
were rushed in the back of a patrol car to a local hospital, where
the girls were treated for smoke inhalation and minor burns and
released; and
WHEREAS, Now 71 years old and living in Temple, Mr. Wells was
reunited at the event in Waco with the two women he rescued more
than four decades ago; now in their 40s, Geni Burkhart and Tamara
Vetere traveled from their homes in Denver in order to surprise him
at the ceremony and thank him at long last for saving their lives;
and
WHEREAS, On that fateful day more than 44 years ago, Ray Wells
demonstrated tremendous courage and compassion in a desperate
situation, giving two women the greatest gift of all, a second
chance at life; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby honor Ray Wells for his remarkable heroism and
extend to him sincere best wishes for continued happiness; and, be
it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Wells as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Anderson of McLennan
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1972 was adopted by the House on May
21, 2015, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House