H.R. No. 536
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Residents of Del Rio lost an esteemed public servant
with the passing of former Del Rio fire chief George Joe Harrington
on December 16, 2024, at the age of 69; and
WHEREAS, Joe Harrington was born in Del Rio on
December 15, 1955, and he began his tenure with the city in 1974
when he joined the Del Rio Volunteer Fire Department; he was hired
on as a full-time employee of the Del Rio Fire Department in 1977,
and he earned his firefighter basic certification the following
year; named the DRFD Paid Firefighter of the Year in 1984, 1991, and
1996, he was awarded the department's medal of honor for his actions
during a citywide flood in 1998; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Harrington was promoted to assistant chief in
2006, and he served in the positions of operations chief, training
chief, and assistant to the emergency management coordinator; in
2013, he was appointed deputy chief, and he became task force leader
over agricultural rescue, automobile extrication, and trench
rescue for the Annual Municipal Texas Fire Training School; he took
over the department as fire chief in 2017 and served in that role
until his retirement in 2021, which drew to a close a career that
spanned nearly four and a half decades; and
WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Chief Harrington enjoyed the
love and support of a family that included his life partner of 25
years, Marta Rodriguez; beyond his professional duties, he spent
time volunteering for events at the Whitehead Memorial Museum,
where he served on the board, and he was also a member of the Del Rio
Chamber of Commerce's Military Affairs Committee; and
WHEREAS, Dedicated to the safety and well-being of his fellow
citizens, Joe Harrington exemplified the highest ideals of his
profession, and he leaves behind a legacy that will continue to
inspire all those who knew and loved him; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of George Joe Harrington
and extend heartfelt sympathy to all who mourn his passing; and, be
it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Joe
Harrington.
Morales of Maverick
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 536 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on March 31, 2025.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House