[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 26, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H356]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING FIRE CHIEF HAROLD WATKINS, LITTLE MARSH, PENNSYLVANIA

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
man who has been a dedicated volunteer firefighter since 1980, Harold 
Watkins of Little Marsh, Pennsylvania. Harold has served the Chatham 
Township Volunteer Fire Company and his community in many capacities. 
He has held the positions of president, vice president, second 
assistant chief, and first assistant chief. For the past 15 years, he 
has been fire chief, and in 2004, he was named Firefighter of the Year. 
In other words, Harold has done it all in his 29 years of protecting 
and saving lives. But he has decided it is time to step down.
  Firefighting is a family affair for the Watkins family. Harold's 
wife, Vivian, serves as secretary for the company and helps organize 
fundraisers. The chief calls Vivian his personal hero for all her hard 
work. His son, Matthew, was Firefighter of the Year in 2008 and serves 
as the vice president and was recently elected as second assistant 
chief, following in his father's footsteps.
  I commend Chief Harold Watkins for his years of dedication and 
service saving lives and property in Chatham Township. And I know the 
community joins me in wishing him all the best in retirement.

                          ____________________