IV 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 246 

Expressing condolences to the families and loved ones of firefighters Matthew 

Renaud, Robert Bebee, Robert Garner, and Anne Sullivan and standing 

in solidarity with their families, members of the Houston Fire Department, and entire Houston community, as they mourn the loss of these 

4 remarkable and selfless heroes who represented the best of the Houston 

community and exemplify the qualities of firefighters serving communities 

throughout the Nation. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 4, 2013 

Ms. JACKSON LEE (for herself, Mr. BRADY of Texas, Mr. AL GREEN of 

Texas, Mr. MCCAUL, Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas, Mr. POE of Texas, Mr. 

CULBERSON, Mr. OLSON, Mr. STOCKMAN, Mr. CASTRO of Texas, and Mr. 

KING of New York) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing condolences to the families and loved ones of 

firefighters Matthew Renaud, Robert Bebee, Robert Garner, and Anne Sullivan and standing in solidarity with 

their families, members of the Houston Fire Department, 

and entire Houston community, as they mourn the loss 

of these 4 remarkable and selfless heroes who represented the best of the Houston community and exemplify the qualities of firefighters serving communities 

throughout the Nation. 

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Whereas the mission of the Houston Fire Department is to 

serve with courage, commitment, and compassion, which 

were demonstrated through the actions of firefighters 

Matthew Renaud, Robert Bebee, Robert Garner, and 

Anne Sullivan on May 31, 2013; 

Whereas the Firemen’s Creed states, ‘‘I have no ambition in 

this world but one and that is to be a firefighter. . . . 

But, above all, our proudest endeavor is to save lives of 

men the work of GOD himself’’; 

Whereas in 2000, Kimberly Ann Smith became the first female Houston firefighter who died in the line of duty 

along with firefighter Lewis Mayo III; 

Whereas March 14, 2012, was the last time the City of 

Houston lost a firefighter in the line of duty when Senior 

Captain Thomas Dillion died; 

Whereas 74 years have passed since the last time more than 

2 fighters lost their lives in the line of duty when Edgar 

Grant, Harry Oxford, and John Little were killed when 

their engine was struck by a train; 

Whereas on May 31, 2013, the 5-alarm fire that engulfed a 

Houston motel and restaurant is now the deadliest fire 

to firefighters in the 118-year history of the Houston 

City Fire Department; 

Whereas captain EMT Matthew Renaud of Station 51, engineer operator EMT Robert Bebee of Station 51, firefighter EMT Robert Garner of Station 68, and probationary firefighter Anne Sullivan of Station 68 died in 

the line of duty while fighting that deadly fire when the 

structure collapsed; 

Whereas Matthew Renaud of Station 51 began his career 

with the Houston Fire Department in October of 2001 

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and, in addition to Fire Station 51, served out of Stations 39, 83, 73, 37, 60, and 35; 

Whereas engineer operator EMT Robert Bebee of Station 51 

began his career with the Houston Fire Department in 

August of 2001 and in addition to Fire Station 51, has 

served out of Stations 37, 40, 10, and 48; 

Whereas firefighter EMT Robert Garner of Station 68 began 

his career with the Houston Fire Department in October 

of 2010 and has served out of Fire Station 68 since joining the department; 

Whereas probationary firefighter Anne Sullivan of Station 68 

graduated from the Houston Fire Department Academy 

in April 2013 and was assigned to Fire Station 68, and 

is the second female firefighter to die in the line of duty 

in the history of the Houston Fire Department; 

Whereas the bravery, devotion to duty, and love of community of these fallen heroes has forever earned them a 

place in the hearts and memories of the citizens of Houston, Texas, because they willingly risked their lives to 

protect us, and are a testament to the spirit of public 

service embodied by firefighters throughout the Nation; 

Whereas these fallen heroes will be missed by all, but especially by those who knew them best, loved them most, 

and will remember them simply as husbands, a daughter, 

fathers, a sister, brothers, sons, colleagues, and friends; 

Whereas probationary firefighter Anne Sullivan of Station 68 

was a gifted athlete who played soccer and was a cross 

country runner who focused her life’s ambition upon 

graduating from high school to become a firefighter and 

began her quest by joining the Wharton County Junior 

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College Fire Academy and after graduation was admitted 

as a cadet at the Houston Fire Department Academy; 

Whereas Firefighter EMT Robert Garner of Station 68 was 

proud to call himself a Houston Firefighter who sought 

out this honor after leaving the United States Air Force 

where he honorably served his country and completed two 

tours of duty in Iraq and started his fire department career at the Val Jahnke Fire Academy; 

Whereas captain Matthew Renaud who serviced the Houston 

Fire Department for 111⁄2 years after joining in October 

of 2001 and was assigned to Station 51 upon graduation 

from the Academy, and was awarded the Unit Meritorious Medal for saving the life of a woman who had 

been trapped by an apartment fire; and 

Whereas engineer operator EMT Robert Bebee of Station 51 

graduated from Dobie High School in Southwest Houston in 1990 and began his fire department career at the 

Val Jahnke Fire Academy on August 6, 2001, and served 

the majority of his career at Station 51 with honor and 

distinction: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives ex2 presses its condolences to the families and loved ones of 

3 firefighters Matthew Renaud, Robert Bebee, Robert Gar4 ner, and Anne Sullivan and stands in solidarity with their 

5 families, members of the Houston Fire Department, and 

6 entire Houston community, as they mourn the loss of 

7 these 4 remarkable and selfless heroes who represented 

8 the best of the Houston community and exemplify the 

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1 qualities of firefighters serving communities throughout 

2 the Nation. 

Æ 

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