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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives wish to congratulate Steve Olson on the
4occasion of his retirement as Fire Chief for the City of Geneva
5Fire Department; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Chief Olson retired on June 30, 2016 after 42
7years with the Geneva Fire Department, including 20 years as
8Chief; he was hired in 1974 as a paid on-call firefighter; he
9was promoted to Fire Lieutenant in 1978 and joined the
10department on a full-time basis the following year; he was
11named Captain in 1982, Deputy Fire Chief in 1986, and Fire
12Chief in 1996; he oversaw a department of 26 full-time
13firefighter/paramedics and over 40 paid on-call firefighters;
14and
 
15    WHEREAS, Chief Olson helped modernize the department with
16construction of two fire stations, which included a new
17headquarters; he also purchased updated vehicles and
18equipment; he initiated a community-based automated external
19defibrillator program that assisted local businesses and
20organizations in acquiring the devices along with training,
21installation, and maintenance; and
 
22    WHEREAS, Chief Olson developed the successful in-service

 

 

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1company inspection program that ensures the department
2annually inspects all commercial properties and introduced the
3use of laptop computers in fire vehicles to provide critical
4building information to responding firefighters and
5paramedics; he helped lead the department through an exhaustive
6process that resulted in the department, becoming an
7internationally accredited agency in 2001, a status it has
8successfully maintained through the subsequent 15 years; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Chief Olson has made an indelible impact on the
10fire department, the city, and the community; he is the epitome
11of selfless leadership; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Chief Olson is a lifelong Geneva resident; he and
13his wife, Beth, have three daughters, all of whom graduated
14from Geneva High School; therefore, be it
 
15    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
16NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
17congratulate Steve Olson on his retirement as Fire Chief for
18the City of Geneva Fire Department; and be it further
 
19    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
20presented to Chief Olson as an expression of our esteem and
21respect.