Senate Resolution 929
By: Senators Burns of the 23rd, Anderson of the 24th, Tillery of the 19th, Watson of the
11th, Goodman of the 8th and others
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing and commending the Georgia Forestry Commission's Telfair/Wheeler County
Unit on being named the 2025 Unit of the Year for Service; the Emanuel/Candler Unit on
being named the 2025 Unit of the Year for Community Engagement; Will Dale for being
named the 2025 Wildland Firefighter of the Year; and Matthew O'Connor for being named
the 2025 Forester of the Year; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, the Georgia Forestry Commission plays a critical role in protecting Georgia's
natural resources, ensuring public safety, and supporting the citizens and landowners of this
state through wildfire prevention and suppression, emergency response, forest management,
and community assistance; and
WHEREAS, due to the outstanding accomplishments of the Telfair/Wheeler County Unit in
serving landowners through firebreak plowing, prescribed burn assists, and other services as
well as the Emanuel/Candler County Unit in engaging their communities through Smokey
Bear programs, educational programs, and other outreach events, these units were selected
as the Georgia Forestry Commission's 2025 Unit of the Year for Service and Unit of the Year
for Community Engagement respectively; and
WHEREAS, due to his outstanding accomplishments in all areas of wildfire mitigation and
suppression in the year 2025, Will Dale was selected as the Georgia Forestry Commission's
2025 Wildland Firefighter of the Year; and
WHEREAS, due to his outstanding accomplishments in all areas of forest management in
the year 2025, Matthew O'Connor was selected as the Georgia Forestry Commission's 2025
Forester of the Year.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body
recognize and commend the Telfair/Wheeler County Unit, the Emanuel/Candler Unit, Will
Dale, and Matthew O'Connor upon being named the Georgia Forestry Commission's 2025
Unit of the Year for Service, 2025 Unit of the Year for Community Engagement, 2025
Wildland Firefighter of the Year, and 2025 Forester of the Year respectively.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the
press.