HR1387 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1387 LRB099 22604 MST 50032 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Steve Olson on the occasion of his retirement as Fire Chief for the City of Geneva Fire Department; and

WHEREAS, Chief Olson retired on June 30, 2016 after 42 years with the Geneva Fire Department, including 20 years as Chief; he was hired in 1974 as a paid on-call firefighter; he was promoted to Fire Lieutenant in 1978 and joined the department on a full-time basis the following year; he was named Captain in 1982, Deputy Fire Chief in 1986, and Fire Chief in 1996; he oversaw a department of 26 full-time firefighter/paramedics and over 40 paid on-call firefighters; and

WHEREAS, Chief Olson helped modernize the department with construction of two fire stations, which included a new headquarters; he also purchased updated vehicles and equipment; he initiated a community-based automated external defibrillator program that assisted local businesses and organizations in acquiring the devices along with training, installation, and maintenance; and

WHEREAS, Chief Olson developed the successful in-service company inspection program that ensures the department annually inspects all commercial properties and introduced the use of laptop computers in fire vehicles to provide critical building information to responding firefighters and paramedics; he helped lead the department through an exhaustive process that resulted in the department, becoming an internationally accredited agency in 2001, a status it has successfully maintained through the subsequent 15 years; and

WHEREAS, Chief Olson has made an indelible impact on the fire department, the city, and the community; he is the epitome of selfless leadership; and

WHEREAS, Chief Olson is a lifelong Geneva resident; he and his wife, Beth, have three daughters, all of whom graduated from Geneva High School; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Steve Olson on his retirement as Fire Chief for the City of Geneva Fire Department; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Chief Olson as an expression of our esteem and respect.