[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 114 (Friday, August 2, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1237-E1238]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN RECOGNITION OF PHILIP D. WHITE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 2, 2013

  Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Fire Chief Philip D. White 
on the occasion of his retirement after more than 30 years of excellent 
service at the South San Francisco Fire Department, ten of them as 
chief. Chief White has saved many lives--human and animal--and brought 
safety and peace of mind to all residents.
  He came to the South San Francisco Fire Department as a paramedic and 
firefighter in 1983. In 1992 he was promoted to Fire Captain and in 
1999 he advanced to Provisional Battalion Chief and Battalion Chief. In 
2002 he was promoted to Deputy Chief and then finally to Fire Chief in 
2003.
  During his distinguished career, Chief White has served with 
contagious enthusiasm and earned a long list of awards and 
acknowledgements. For example, he was named 1992 Firefighter of the 
Year by the South San Francisco Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. 
He received a commendation from FEMA for urban search and rescue 
deployments during Hurricane Iniki, the Northridge earthquake, the 
World Trade Center and Hurricane Katrina. He received a service award 
from the Peninsula Council of Lions Clubs in 2001 and was named the 
2003 City of South San Francisco Employee of the Year. Also in 2003, he 
received a special commendation from the United States Marine Corps for 
the ``Yellow Ribbon'' resolution passed in support of military 
families. In 2011 he was honored with the California Commendation Medal 
for meritorious service and support of soldiers and airmen of the 
California Army and Air National Guard.
  This long list of honors demonstrates Chief White's tireless energy 
and commitment to others. He has made South San Francisco a better 
place to live by introducing ordinances and programs that will serve 
residents for decades to come. Chief White was instrumental in 
developing technical rescue, maritime and emergency response programs. 
He helped make new buildings safer by requiring sprinkler systems. His 
colleagues can also thank

[[Page E1238]]

him for a state-of-the-art live fire training tower complex, 
multipurpose classrooms and an emergency operating center.
  Chief White also obtained regional training center status for trench 
rescue, confined space rescue, rescue systems 1 & 2, authored the San 
Francisco Bay Area Maritime Fire, Rescue and EMS Automatic Aid 
Agreement, and he promoted the department's participation in Urban 
Shield.
  Chief White applied his ``can do'' attitude to his volunteer and 
community service as well. He served on several county committees 
reviewing pre-hospital care issues at the advanced life support level. 
Chief White also coordinated CPR training for citizens and he promoted 
outreach programs such as Day In The Park, Fire Prevention Week, Junior 
Fire Academy, Christmas Toy Drives, Jazz by the Bay and USO Bay Area.
  His hard work and optimism have earned him the utmost respect and 
gratitude at the South San Francisco Fire Department. His fellow fire 
fighters credit him with the prevention of layoffs and fire station 
closures, top-notch training facilities and outstanding moral. I was 
told they even promised Chief White that his fire station will be 
number 1 in Urban Shield next year.
  In his well-deserved retirement, Chief White is looking forward to 
spending more time with his wife of 32 years, Donna, their four 
children, three grandchildren and his beloved Labrador retriever Bella. 
He will also enjoy more trips to our national parks.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to 
honor Chief Philip D. White for his generous contributions and deep 
commitment to South San Francisco residents. He will be missed but 
never forgotten.

                          ____________________