TITLE: Recognizing Walt Kelley on the occasion of his retirement as emergency administration manager for the City of Amarillo.

SUMMARY: Recognizing Walt Kelley on the occasion of his retirement as emergency administration manager for the City of Amarillo.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to recognize Walt Kelley, who is retiring as emergency administration manager for the City of Amarillo and has been commissioned as an Admiral in the Texas Navy; and WHEREAS, Mr. Kelley has served the City of Amarillo for more than 28 years; he served as communications manager for the city and as emergency management coordinator for the city and for Potter and Randall Counties before becoming emergency administration manager in 2008; and WHEREAS, A nationally recognized leader in the field of emergency management, Mr. Kelley developed and created Amarillo's system from the ground up; he has served as a mentor to many others in the field and is active in numerous professional organizations, including the Texas Preparedness Advisory Committee, the Panhandle Emergency Management Advisory Committee, which he chairs, and the Emergency Management Association of Texas, of which he is a founding member and past president; and WHEREAS, He has handled his many responsibilities with exceptional efficiency and dedication and has contributed greatly to the development of emergency management as a profession; under his leadership, the City of Amarillo accepted numerous evacuees from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita; and WHEREAS, Prior to coming to Amarillo, Mr. Kelley served 20 years as a member of the United States Navy, and it is truly fitting that he be honored as an Admiral in the Texas Navy; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 82nd Legislature, hereby commend Walt Kelley on his many years of outstanding service to our state and nation and extend congratulations to him on being commissioned as an Admiral in the Texas Navy; and, be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for him as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate. Seliger President of the Senate I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on March 14, 2011.