House Resolution 55

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE ESTEEMED CAREER AND PUBLIC SERVICE OF ASSISTANT CHIEF RONALD LELAND "R.W." WILLIAMS RENDERED TO THE CITIZENS OF MERIDIAN AND LAUDERDALE COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, AND CONGRATULATING HIM UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT.

WHEREAS, after nearly 43 years of dedicated and zealous service to public safety Ronald Leland "R.W." Williams retired his uniform and water hose to the closet of the National Guard Base Fire Department in Meridian on June 30, 2017, after having first begun his prestigious career as a rookie fireman with the Meridian Fire Department on December 18, 1974; and

WHEREAS, a native of Meridian, born March 17, 1954, Williams graduated with the Meridian High School Class of 1972 and later matriculated at Meridian Community College before immersing himself in the throws of public safety and making an esteemed livelihood by rendering services to those most in need during times of critical distress; and

WHEREAS, for more than 20 years, Mr. Williams proffered the City of Meridian and its citizens provident public safety as Captain, after having assumed the post upon his meritorious scaling of the promotion ranks, garnering much admiration and respect from his comrades, which never waivered from the date of his initial hire with the department until his decision to conclude his prestigious career as a municipal firefighter on December 7, 1994; and

WHEREAS, in 1985, "R.W." became a member of a prestigious firemen's fraternity as one of only approximately 1,300 firefighters in the state to complete one of the most rigorous firefighter training courses in the nation to become a certified Mississippi Smoke Diver, a program which has tested the grit and fortitude of more than 20,000 potential candidates since its inception in 1975 by the Mississippi Fire Academy, which has separated men from heroes; and

WHEREAS, equally committed to the service and protected liberties of this state and nation, Captain Williams worked simultaneously, for four months, beginning August 1, 1994, as a firefighter at Key Field Air National Guard Base, which serves as home of the 186th Air Refueling Wing of the Mississippi Air National Guard; and

WHEREAS, again having gained the respect of his peers, colleagues and commanding officers, Williams' ethical morale, character and rapport advanced his opportunity for meritorious leadership promotion, which eventually led to his tapping as Assistant Chief for the base fire department; and

WHEREAS, during the course of his 23-year career at Key Field, Assistant Chief Williams was selected to serve on the elite Mississippi State Search and Rescue Task Force, which provides highly specialized, all-hazards response capability and services to local jurisdictions overwhelmed by natural and man-made disasters; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to commend the remarkable career and public service of such a remarkable, selfless and knowledgeable individual as Assistant Chief Williams, who has dedicated more than four decades of his life to promoting and upholding the principles of public safety to the State of Mississippi to maximize the benefits and protection of its citizens:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend the esteemed career and public service that Assistant Chief Ronald Leland "R.W." Williams rendered to the citizens of Mississippi, congratulate him upon the occasion of his retirement from public service and extend warmest wishes for continued success in all of his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Assistant Chief Ronald Leland "R.W." Williams and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.