House Resolution 1063
By: Representatives Dempsey of the 13th, Blackmon of the 146th, Lumsden of the 12th, Barton
of the 5th, and Hitchens of the 161st
A RESOLUTION
Commending and honoring the life and dedicated service of Chief Gordon Henderson; and
for other purposes.
WHEREAS, Mr. Charles “Gordon” Henderson, age 75, of Stockbridge, Georgia, passed
away Friday, September, 5, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of dedicated service spanning
nearly five decades; and
WHEREAS, Chief Henderson, a native of the “Georgia Model Community” in Rome,
Georgia, was a veteran of the Rome-Floyd Fire Department, where he began his career on
November 2, 1975, and steadily rose through the ranks, serving as caption at Station One,
being promoted to deputy chief in 1988, and leading the department with distinction as chief
until his retirement on January 1, 2015; and
WHEREAS, his leadership was instrumental in the department, as noted by current Rome-
Floyd Fire Chief Troy Brock and retired Battalion Chief Phil Langston, who recalls Chief
Henderson’s key role in securing the land for the Firefighters Memorial in Rome; and
WHEREAS, Chief Henderson served as president of the Georgia State firefighters
Association from 2000 to 2002, as a district vice president for the Georgia Association of fire
Chiefs, and held multiple leadership roles within the National Fire Protection Association,
including serving as principal member of the national professional qualifications committee
for firefighters; and
WHEREAS, following his retirement from the Rome-Floyd Fire Department, Chief
Henderson continued to serve the fire profession statewide as executive Director of the
Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council, a role he held from 2015 to 2022,
ensuring compliance with all regulations and collaborating with officials and fire service
organizations throughout Georgia; and
WHEREAS, Director Gordon Henderson was succeeded in the Georgia Firefighter Standards
and Training Council by Executive Director Randy Toms, who recognizes the legacy left for
him to follow; and
WHEREAS, Chief Gordon Henderson is survived by his loving wife, Dawn Traylor
Henderson; his children, Jason and Kimbell; five grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and
four brothers.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body extend the deepest sympathies to the family of Chief Gordon
Henderson, as well as honor and commed his many years of exemplary service and
outstanding contributions to the fire serive and the citizens of Georgia.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Chief
Gordon Henderson.