H.R. No. 979
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) personnel provided invaluable aid
in the recent standoff between the Republic of Texas separatist faction and law enforcement
officials, and their efforts are indeed deserving of special legislative recognition; and
WHEREAS, While Texas Rangers and Department of Public Safety troopers conducted
negotiations with the armed group, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice provided meals,
water, and bedding to the many law enforcement officials stationed on the scene; and
WHEREAS, The department provided even greater assistance when two men escaped from
the group's compound and fled into the rugged wilderness of the nearby Davis Mountains;
because the immense terrain was inaccessible to vehicles, TDCJ tracking dogs were used to
pursue the fugitives, while correctional officers followed on horseback and on foot; and
WHEREAS, These specially trained redbone hounds succeeded where all else failed, twice
picking up the trail of the fugitives and leading officers to their location; tragically, two of the
dogs were wounded and another was killed in the line of duty, and a TDCJ supervisor had to
resort to deadly force when one of the fugitives opened fire on law enforcement officials; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the Fort Davis standoff and subsequent manhunt, law enforcement
officers and personnel representing a wide range of state, local, and federal entities worked
together day and night to effect a peaceful end to the crisis, and Texans owe a great debt of
gratitude to all of these fine men and women; Texas Department of Criminal Justice
representatives deserving of special mention include TDCJ Executive Director Wayne Scott,
Institutional Division Director Gary Johnson, Senior Warden Terry Foster of the Lynaugh and
Fort Stockton units, and Field Lieutenant Eric Pechacek and Kennel Sergeant Ralph Hager of the
Lynaugh Unit, each of whom made exceptional contributions to the resolution of this potentially
disastrous situation; and
WHEREAS, In the face of tremendous danger and with numerous lives on the line, Texas
Department of Criminal Justice personnel responded quickly, decisively, and effectively to this
unfortunate situation; their expertise and assistance proved crucial throughout the events that
unfolded in and around Fort Davis, and their heroic service will not be forgotten; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas Legislature hereby honor
the Texas Department of Criminal Justice personnel who helped to resolve the standoff at Fort
Davis and extend to them deepest appreciation on behalf of all Texans; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the Texas Department of
Criminal Justice as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.
Hightower
Laney
Gutierrez
Oliveira
Alexander
Haggerty
Olivo
Allen
Hamric
Palmer
Alvarado
Hartnett
Patterson
Averitt
Hawley
Pickett
Bailey
Heflin
Pitts
Berlanga
Hernandez
Place
Bonnen
Hightower
Price
Bosse
Hilbert
Puente
Brimer
Hilderbran
Rabuck
Burnam
Hill
Ramsay
Carter
Hinojosa
Rangel
Chavez
Hirschi
Raymond
Chisum
Hochberg
Reyna of Bexar
Christian
Hodge
Reyna of Dallas
Clark
Holzheauser
Rhodes
Coleman
Horn
Rodriguez
Cook
Howard
Roman
Corte
Hunter
Sadler
Counts
Hupp
Seaman
Crabb
Isett
Serna
Craddick
Jackson
Shields
Cuellar
Janek
Siebert
Culberson
Jones of Lubbock
Smith
Danburg
Jones of Dallas
Smithee
Davila
Junell
Solis
Davis
Kamel
Solomons
Delisi
Keel
Staples
Denny
Driver
Dukes
Dunnam
Dutton
Edwards
Ehrhardt
Eiland
Elkins
Farrar
Finnell
Flores
Gallego
Galloway
Garcia
Giddings
Glaze
Goodman
Goolsby
Gray
Greenberg
Grusendorf
Keffer
King
Krusee
Kubiak
Kuempel
Lewis of Tarrant
Lewis of Orange
Longoria
Luna
McCall
McClendon
McReynolds
Madden
Marchant
Maxey
Merritt
Moffat
Moreno
Mowery
Naishtat
Nixon
Oakley
Stiles
Swinford
Talton
Telford
Thompson
Tillery
Torres
Turner of Coleman
Turner of Harris
Uher
Van de Putte
Walker
West
Williams
Williamson
Wilson
Wise
Wohlgemuth
Wolens
Woolley
Yarbrough
Zbranek
_______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 979 was adopted by the House on May 16, 1997, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House