HR536 - In memory of former Del Rio fire chief George Joe Harrington.

      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