H.R. No. 1260

	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The life of a dedicated public servant drew to a
	close with the passing of former Ponderosa Fire Department fire
	chief John Peter O'Gorman on February 18, 2015, at the age of 72;
	and
	WHEREAS, A native of Hoboken, New Jersey, John O'Gorman was
	born on November 30, 1942, to Arthur and Mary O'Gorman; he graduated
	from the University of Notre Dame in 1964 and earned a master's
	degree from Michigan State University the following year;
	Mr. O'Gorman began his career with Shell Chemical in New York in
	1966 and by the early 1970s had transferred to the company's Deer
	Park facility; he served as emergency response coordinator there
	from January 1981 until his retirement in December 1999; and
	WHEREAS, John O'Gorman was committed to protecting and
	serving his fellow citizens; a charter member of the Ponderosa Fire
	Department, he held a number of important leadership positions
	within the organization, including those of assistant chief,
	training chief, and fire chief; he served in the latter capacity on
	three occasions, from 1982 to 1985, 1994 to 1995, and 2000 to 2003;
	moreover, he played an instrumental role in the establishment of
	the PFD training facility as well as fire stations No. 2 and No. 3;
	a valued mentor to a host of fellow firefighters, he retired from
	the PFD in 2013 after four decades of dedicated service; and
	WHEREAS, This esteemed gentleman additionally served for
	many years as an instructor with the Texas A&M Engineering
	Extension Service, sharing his skill and expertise with countless
	students in its Municipal Fire School; Chief O'Gorman also helped
	the Houston Fire Department to develop its HAZMAT Team, and he was a
	charter member of the Hazardous Materials Committee of the
	International Association of Fire Chiefs; and
	WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, John O'Gorman enjoyed the love
	and support of his wife, Elaine; he was the proud father of two
	children, Elena and Patrick, and he knew the joy of welcoming two
	grandchildren, Madeline and Mary, into his cherished family; and
	WHEREAS, When not engaged in his family or professional
	responsibilities, Chief O'Gorman delighted in woodworking,
	collecting fire department patches, and cheering on his beloved
	Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team; he was also a valued
	congregant of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in New
	Braunfels; and
	WHEREAS, Devoted to his family and his community, John
	O'Gorman lived a caring and purposeful life, and he will forever be
	remembered with great fondness and respect by his fellow
	firefighters and by all who had the good fortune to know him; now,
	therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
	Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of John Peter O'Gorman
	and extend deepest sympathy to the members of his family: to his
	wife, Mary Elaine Thelen-O'Gorman; to his children, Elena O'Gorman
	and Patrick O'Gorman and his wife, Diane; to his grandchildren,
	Madeline and Mary O'Gorman; and to his other relatives and many
	friends; 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 John Peter
	O'Gorman.
	Riddle
	______________________________
	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.R. No. 1260 was unanimously adopted by a
	rising vote of the House on March 26, 2015.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House