HR1574 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1574 LRB095 22765 KXB 53191 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Donald R. Gould, Jr., on his twenty years of service as the Fire Chief in Prospect Heights; and

WHEREAS, A member since 1966, Chief Gould has been the fire chief since 1988; Chief Gould is a Chief Fire Officer Designee of the Commission on Fire Accreditation International, a graduate of the Oklahoma State University School of Fire Protection, and an Illinois State Fire Marshal Certified Fire Officer III; and

WHEREAS, During his tenure with the Prospect Heights Fire Protection District he has served in every rank, from volunteer firefighter, lieutenant, captain, assistant chief, to his current position as fire chief; as Assistant Chief, he was instrumental in the implementation of paramedic service and participation in the State Fire Marshal's training programs; and

WHEREAS, As fire chief he has overseen several referendums that have resulted in the purchase of the first aerial ladder truck, expansion of the headquarters fire station and construction of a second fire station, the consolidation of the Palwaukee Area Fire Protection District into the Prospect Heights Fire Protection District, and the hiring of additional personnel; when Chief Gould was first appointed the fire protection district was served by paid-per-call firefighters who responded when paged; those members who were also paramedics worked part-time at the fire station as part of a three-person crew to ensure a rapid response; and

WHEREAS, In 2000, Chief Gould was appointed the fire protection district's first full-time fire chief; since 2001 Chief Gould has increased the on-duty 24/7 staffing to ten and several additional full-time personnel have been hired, including the deputy chiefs, captains, and nine firefighter/paramedics; he has presented members with service awards and plaques of recognition for each five-years of service achieved; and

WHEREAS, For twenty years Chief Gould has served his community and deserves this honor; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Chief Donald Gould and wish him continued success in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Chief Gould as a symbol of our respect.