| 5 | | - | SENATE RESOLUTION |
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| 6 | | - | WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to |
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| 7 | | - | recognize Robert Rocha upon the occasion of his retirement as |
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| 8 | | - | chief of the Corpus Christi Fire Department on January 20, 2023, |
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| 9 | | - | after 11 years of outstanding leadership; and |
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| 10 | | - | WHEREAS, Robert Rocha began his tenure as fire chief with |
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| 11 | | - | the Corpus Christi Fire Department in 2011; with more than four |
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| 12 | | - | decades of fire service experience, he is highly respected by his |
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| 13 | | - | colleagues and is well known for his dedication, courage, and |
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| 14 | | - | superior leadership; and |
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| 15 | | - | WHEREAS, Throughout his distinguished career, Robert has |
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| 16 | | - | successfully managed the far-reaching responsibilities of a fire |
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| 17 | | - | chief, and he is admired by citizens throughout the community for |
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| 18 | | - | his dedication to the safety of the Corpus Christi community; and |
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| 19 | | - | WHEREAS, Robert has led the Corpus Christi Fire Department |
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| 20 | | - | through 11 years of development and challenges, including |
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| 21 | | - | Hurricane Harvey and the COVID-19 pandemic; he has overseen the |
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| 22 | | - | management of hundreds of firefighters and the construction of |
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| 23 | | - | two new fire stations while maintaining the department's |
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| 24 | | - | rigorous training requirements, high standards, and diversity; |
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| 25 | | - | and |
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| 26 | | - | WHEREAS, An innovative leader, Robert has incorporated the |
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| 27 | | - | use of modern technology, including a drone, to assist with |
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| 28 | | - | emergency responses; he has displayed expertise and sound |
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| 29 | | - | judgment in managing the unique challenges of overseeing a major |
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| 30 | | - | department in a thriving coastal city, and he has always been |
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| 31 | | - | eager and prepared to assist those in need; and |
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| 32 | | - | WHEREAS, A man of integrity and strength, Robert Rocha is |
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| 33 | | - | highly esteemed and admired by his colleagues at the department |
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| 34 | | - | and by the members of the community, and he will be greatly missed |
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| 35 | | - | by all at the Corpus Christi Fire Department; now, therefore, be |
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| 36 | | - | it |
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| 37 | | - | RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th |
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| 38 | | - | Legislature, hereby commend Chief Robert Rocha on his |
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| 39 | | - | exceptional career with the Corpus Christi Fire Department and |
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| 40 | | - | extend to him best wishes for the retirement years ahead; and, be |
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| 41 | | - | it further |
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| 42 | | - | RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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| 43 | | - | him as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate. |
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| 5 | + | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 6 | + | WHEREAS, Ella Bea Haywood of Foreman, Arkansas, passed away |
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| 7 | + | on June 5, 2023, at the age of 78, leaving behind a wide circle of |
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| 8 | + | loved ones to cherish her memory; and |
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| 9 | + | WHEREAS, Born in Foreman, Arkansas, on July 15, 1944, the |
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| 10 | + | former Ella Bea French was the daughter of Galvester French Sr. and |
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| 11 | + | Lula Mae Compton French; she grew up with the companionship of six |
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| 12 | + | brothers and seven sisters; and |
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| 13 | + | WHEREAS, Mrs. Haywood was preceded in death by her husband, |
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| 14 | + | Sylvester Haywood Sr., with whom she raised two sons, Mark and |
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| 15 | + | Sylvester, and four daughters, Lisa, Margaret, Penny, and Edna; she |
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| 16 | + | was further blessed with 12 grandchildren, Mark, Ashlee, Tyler, |
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| 17 | + | Dayton, Sa'Ron, Taylor, Aspen, Brandon, Christopher, Ishiah, |
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| 18 | + | Samiya, and Cayden, as well as 14 great-grandchildren and numerous |
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| 19 | + | nieces and nephews; she devoted herself to her faith as a member of |
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| 20 | + | Royal Chapel Baptist Church in Foreman; and |
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| 21 | + | WHEREAS, Ella Bea Haywood lived a full and generous life |
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| 22 | + | surrounded by those she loved, and they will forever carry her close |
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| 23 | + | in their hearts; now, therefore, be it |
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| 24 | + | RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature, 1st |
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| 25 | + | Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the memory of Ella Bea Haywood |
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| 26 | + | and extend deepest sympathy to the members of her family: to her |
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| 27 | + | son, Mark Haywood, and his wife, Ellen; to her daughters, Lisa, |
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| 28 | + | Margaret, Penny, and Edna Haywood; to her siblings, Galvester |
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| 29 | + | French Jr., Willie, J. R., Bobby, Ronnie, and Donnie French, Ella |
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| 30 | + | Wee Haywood, Rosie Jones, Jerri Suber, Irene Dennis, Sheila Smith, |
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| 31 | + | and Delois and Eula French; to her grandchildren and |
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| 32 | + | great-grandchildren; and to her many other relatives and friends; |
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| 33 | + | and, be it further |
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| 34 | + | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 35 | + | prepared for her family and that when the Texas Senate adjourns this |
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| 36 | + | day, it do so in memory of Ella Haywood. |
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