TITLE: Congratulating Rick Townsend on his retirement as chief of the Forney Fire Department.

SUMMARY: Congratulating Rick Townsend on his retirement as chief of the Forney Fire Department.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Chief Rick Townsend concluded his tenure with the Forney Fire Department on April 10, 2020, following more than four decades of outstanding service to the agency; and WHEREAS, This esteemed first responder began his career with what was then the Forney Volunteer Fire Department on April 10, 1976; he continued to serve the VFD in a number of roles even after joining the Garland Fire Department two years later, and he retired from his job as a firefighter in Garland in 2006 to assume the position of Forney fire chief; and WHEREAS, Over the course of his tenure with the Forney FD, Chief Townsend saw the department transition from a volunteer organization to a professional agency with dozens of full-time employees at two fire stations; under his guidance, the department developed partnerships with a number of other emergency response organizations in the region, and he was instrumental in establishing the annual "Toys for Forney Kids" drive; and WHEREAS, Rick Townsend has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to protecting the lives and property of his fellow citizens, and he may indeed reflect with pride on his long record of achievement; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas Legislature hereby congratulate Rick Townsend on his retirement as chief of the Forney Fire Department and extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Chief Townsend as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Bell of Kaufman Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 287 was adopted by the House on March 18, 2021, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House