| 1 | 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 431 |
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| 2 | 2 | | WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to recognize |
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| 3 | 3 | | Billy Parker, who is retiring as director of the Texas A&M Engineering |
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| 4 | 4 | | Extension Service's Texas Task Force 1 on March 31, 2015; and |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Parker began his long and distinguished career |
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| 6 | 6 | | in public service in 1976, when he became a firefighter for the |
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| 7 | 7 | | Clyde Fire Department; he went on to join the Texas A&M Engineering |
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| 8 | 8 | | Extension Service, a state agency that trains public safety workers |
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| 9 | 9 | | and provides emergency responders during large-scale crises; |
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| 10 | 10 | | there, he helped establish the new Regional Texas Task Force System |
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| 11 | 11 | | and develop an expansive and comprehensive training facility |
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| 12 | 12 | | called Disaster City; in addition, he acted as chief of the Texas |
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| 13 | 13 | | A&M Engineering Extension Service Recruit Academy and oversaw the |
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| 14 | 14 | | training of more than 1,500 fire cadets; and |
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| 15 | 15 | | WHEREAS, Widely recognized as an expert in search and |
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| 16 | 16 | | rescue, Mr. Parker also played a key role in the growth of the |
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| 17 | 17 | | agency's Texas Task Force 1 from a small advisory board to one of |
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| 18 | 18 | | the most called-upon rescue teams in the country; as a member of |
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| 19 | 19 | | the task force, he was deployed during several prominent state |
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| 20 | 20 | | and national disasters, including the Texas A&M University |
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| 21 | 21 | | bonfire collapse, the World Trade Center attack, and Hurricanes |
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| 22 | 22 | | Katrina, Rita, and Ike; he was named director of Texas Task Force |
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| 23 | 23 | | 1 in 2012; and |
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| 24 | 24 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Parker received the Texas A&M Engineering |
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| 25 | 25 | | Extension Service Distinguished Service Award in 2005 and the |
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| 26 | 26 | | Regents Fellow Service Award from The Texas A&M University System |
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| 27 | 27 | | Board of Regents the following year; and |
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| 28 | 28 | | WHEREAS, An engaged member of his community, Mr. Parker |
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| 29 | 29 | | has served as a volunteer firefighter, a paramedic, and a girls' |
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| 30 | 30 | | softball coach; he has also been a valued congregant of Hillcrest |
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| 31 | 31 | | Baptist Church for more than 22 years; and |
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| 32 | 32 | | WHEREAS, Through his loyalty, integrity, and unwavering |
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| 33 | 33 | | commitment to the safety and well-being of his fellow Texans, |
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| 34 | 34 | | Billy Parker has set a standard of leadership and service to |
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| 35 | 35 | | which others may aspire, and he may reflect with pride on a career |
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| 36 | 36 | | well spent; now, therefore, be it |
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| 37 | 37 | | RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th |
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| 38 | 38 | | Legislature, hereby congratulate Billy Parker on his retirement |
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| 39 | 39 | | from the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service and extend to |
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| 40 | 40 | | him sincere best wishes for continued success and happiness; and, |
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| 41 | 41 | | be it further |
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| 42 | 42 | | RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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| 43 | 43 | | Mr. Parker as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate. |
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| 44 | 44 | | Schwertner |
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| 45 | 45 | | ________________________________ |
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| 46 | 46 | | President of the Senate |
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| 47 | 47 | | I hereby certify that the |
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| 48 | 48 | | above Resolution was adopted by |
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| 49 | 49 | | the Senate on March 25, 2015. |
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| 50 | 50 | | ________________________________ |
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| 51 | 51 | | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 52 | 52 | | ________________________________ |
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| 53 | 53 | | Member, Texas Senate |
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