[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 28 (Wednesday, March 13, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E334]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             TRIBUTE TO DALY CITY FIRE CHIEF BOB O'DONNELL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 13, 2002

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me today in 
paying tribute to one of the San Francisco Bay Area's most dedicated 
and distinguished public servants, recently retired Daly City Fire 
Chief Bob O'Donnell. During Chief O'Donnell's remarkable thirty year 
career in the Fire Department he left an indelible legacy on the 
community he served with extraordinary passion and professionalism.
  In the wake of September 11th, the American people have come to 
better understand the heroic commitment of our nations firefighters in 
serving the public. Risking life and limb to protect the community is 
part of their daily job. Bob O'Donnell lived up to the highest ideals 
of public service through his thoughtful leadership, and we should all 
thank him for his outstanding labors on behalf of the people of San 
Mateo.
  As a young boy, Bob O'Donnell dreamed of becoming a fire fighter, and 
that dream was realized when, in 1972, at the age of twenty-six, he 
joined the San Mateo Fire Department. His leadership skills and talent 
did not go unnoticed and was promoted to Fire Engine Operator in 1979, 
and then quickly rose to Fire Captain. By 1985, Bob was awarded the 
highest of honors when he was named firefighter of the year of Daly 
City. A year later, he was named Administrative Battalion Chief and 
then Operations Battalion Chief.
  In 1997, his service record and leadership skills brought him to the 
pinnacle of his profession, Fire Chief of Daly City. During his thirty 
years in service, Bob became a forerunner in the field of fire safety 
by becoming one of the state's most active proponents of fire 
prevention and community fire safety education programs. From 1989 
through 1996, he served as the department's Public Education 
Coordinator and led numerous efforts to educate the community on fire 
safety.
  Chief O'Donnell's list of accomplishments is long. In the mid-80's he 
successfully fought for grants which secured smoke detectors for low-
income citizens. His integrity as well as the respect he garnered from 
his fellow firefighters made him the natural choice to lead efforts in 
integrating women into the Daly City fire department in 1986. His 
sensitivity and leadership in the matter made Daly City a model for 
other fire departments. As Fire Chief, Bob O'Donnell's leadership was 
pivotal in developing a nationally recognized Joint Partnership 
Agreement engine-based paramedic program, which involved seventeen in-
house paramedics. He coordinated the Vegetation Management Program to 
remove the highly flammable gorse plants in Daly City's Southern Hill 
section, thereby changing the area from a very high fire hazard zone to 
a low hazard zone. Daly City was the first to achieve this feat in 
California.
  Chief O'Donnell's presence will be sorely missed at the fire houses 
of Daly City, but his legacy of achievement will continue to inspire 
the brotherhood of professional firefighters. I hope he enjoys his 
retirement, he's earned it.

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