HR1063: HR1063 Henderson, Chief Gordon; honoring the life and dedicated service; condolences

26 LC 129 0624 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; and1 for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, Mr. Charles “Gordon” Henderson, age 75, of Stockbridge , Georgia, passed3 away Friday, September, 5, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of ded icated service spanning4 nearly five decades; and5 WHEREAS, Chief Henderson, a native of the “Georgia Model Commun ity” in Rome,6 Georgia, was a veteran of the Rome-Floyd Fire Department, where he began his career on7 November 2, 1975, and steadily rose through the ranks, serving as caption at Station One,8 being promoted to deputy chief in 1988, and leading the department with distinction as chief9 until his retirement on January 1, 2015; and10 WHEREAS, his leadership was instrumental in the department, as noted by current Rome-11 Floyd Fire Chief Troy Brock and retired Battalion Chief Phil La ngston, who recalls Chief12 Henderson’s key role in securing the land for the Firefighters Memorial in Rome; and13 WHEREAS, Chief Henderson served as president of the Georgia Sta te firefighters14 Association from 2000 to 2002, as a district vice president for the Georgia Association of fire15 H. R. 1063 - 1 - 26 LC 129 0624 Chiefs, and held multiple leadership roles within the National Fire Protection Association,16 including serving as principal member of the national professional qualifications committee17 for firefighters; and18 WHEREAS, following his retirement from the Rome-Floyd Fire Depa rtment, Chief19 Henderson continued to serve the fire profession statewide as e xecutive Director of the20 Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council, a role he h eld from 2015 to 2022,21 ensuring compliance with all regulations and collaborating with officials and fire service22 organizations throughout Georgia; and23 WHEREAS, Director Gordon Henderson was succeeded in the Georgia Firefighter Standards24 and Training Council by Executive Director Randy Toms, who recognizes the legacy left for25 him to follow; and26 WHEREAS, Chief Gordon Henderson is survived by his loving wife, Dawn Traylor27 Henderson; his children, Jason and Kimbell; five grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and28 four brothers.29 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that30 the members of this body extend the deepest sympathies to the f amily of Chief Gordon31 Henderson, as well as honor and commed his many years of exempl ary service and32 outstanding contributions to the fire serive and the citizens of Georgia.33 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized34 and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Chief35 Gordon Henderson.36 H. R. 1063 - 2 -