| 1 | 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 183 |
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| 2 | 2 | | WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to |
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| 3 | 3 | | recognize Jeff Whitson for his exceptional service to the people |
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| 4 | 4 | | of Menard County during the state's historic 2021 winter storm; and |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, For many years, Jeff Whitson has been a mainstay |
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| 6 | 6 | | of Menard County's emergency response team; he is an employee of |
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| 7 | 7 | | the City of Menard, and he served for more than a decade in law |
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| 8 | 8 | | enforcement and is a 25-year member of the Menard Volunteer Fire |
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| 9 | 9 | | Department; and |
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| 10 | 10 | | WHEREAS, As the winter storm approached Menard, |
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| 11 | 11 | | Mr. Whitson was helping to extinguish a house fire during the |
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| 12 | 12 | | early morning hours of Thursday, February 11; in the following |
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| 13 | 13 | | days, he responded to numerous calls to assist motorists who were |
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| 14 | 14 | | stranded and injured due to the icy and dangerous roadway |
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| 15 | 15 | | conditions caused by the storm; he was also instrumental in |
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| 16 | 16 | | opening an emergency warming center and assisting with its |
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| 17 | 17 | | relocation after the center lost electrical power; and |
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| 18 | 18 | | WHEREAS, Once electrical power was lost throughout the |
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| 19 | 19 | | region, Mr. Whitson played a vital role in resolving issues with |
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| 20 | 20 | | a radio relay tower and enabling the much-needed communication |
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| 21 | 21 | | between emergency responders to be restored; in addition, he |
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| 22 | 22 | | obtained a mobile generator from nearby Kimble County that |
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| 23 | 23 | | allowed the local propane vendor to provide fuel to residents and |
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| 24 | 24 | | provided power to sustain the local nursing home for 52 hours; on |
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| 25 | 25 | | February 17, while responding to another house fire, Jeff's |
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| 26 | 26 | | prompt and decisive action was a critical factor in saving the |
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| 27 | 27 | | life of a fellow firefighter who suffered a heart attack; and |
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| 28 | 28 | | WHEREAS, Throughout the devastating storm and its |
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| 29 | 29 | | aftermath, Mr. Whitson continued to aid his neighbors and fellow |
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| 30 | 30 | | citizens; he went above and beyond the call of duty to address |
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| 31 | 31 | | water leaks and to assist with flooding issues while continuing |
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| 32 | 32 | | to answer calls for support with the fire department; he has |
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| 33 | 33 | | truly demonstrated an uncommon dedication to duty and an |
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| 34 | 34 | | outstanding commitment to serving the citizens of Menard County, |
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| 35 | 35 | | and it is indeed fitting that he receive special recognition; |
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| 36 | 36 | | now, therefore, be it |
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| 37 | 37 | | RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 87th |
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| 38 | 38 | | Legislature, hereby commend Jeff Whitson for his heroic actions |
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| 39 | 39 | | and extend to him sincerest gratitude for his invaluable service |
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| 40 | 40 | | to the Menard County communities in response to the catastrophic |
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| 41 | 41 | | 2021 winter storm; and, 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 | | him as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate. |
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| 44 | 44 | | Perry |
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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 22, 2021. |
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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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