[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 166 (Friday, October 5, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1380]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          PHILIP ``DUANE'' STEEN: 37 YEARS OF SERVICE TO TEXAS

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 5, 2018

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, my friend, Philip ``Duane'' Steen, has 
served Texans for nearly four decades in the Texas Department of Public 
Safety. He is a lifetime member of what is referred to in my part of 
Texas as the Poe-leece. It is an informal organization made up of my 
long-time friends in the Texas law enforcement community.
  No stone in Texas has been left unturned during his decorated career. 
From the hills of San Antonio to the flat lands of Houston, he has 
helped Texans feel safe and secure by defending and upholding the law. 
His service to the state and to Houston will withstand time. It is an 
honor to pay tribute to him today as he retires from public service.
  Duane graduated from Texas A&M with a Bachelor of Arts in Political 
Science before beginning his valorous career with the Texas Department 
of Public Safety (DPS). His career aspirations began when car trouble 
led to a ride-along with a DPS trooper as a student at A&M. The two got 
along like old friends, and you might say that was the straw that broke 
the camel's back. In 1981, Duane officially began his career serving 
the people of Texas. His first assignment was in Denton as a Highway 
Patrol Trooper.
  During his nearly four decade tenure, Duane served the people of 
Texas through various positions in the DPS. He served as Narcotics 
Sergeant, Austin; Narcotics Lieutenant, Waco; Narcotics Captain, 
Garland and Austin, and Narcotics Assistant Commander, San Antonio and 
Austin. In the last decade of his career he served in Austin as Major, 
Criminal Investigations Division, later promoted to Deputy Assistant 
Director, and finally as Region 2 Commander, Houston.
  From speeding tickets and drunk drivers to full scale narcotics 
operations, he was up against some of the roughest and toughest that 
Texas had to offer. Through it all, he never stopped trying to make the 
Lone Star state a safer place. He was the type of guy that you wanted 
on your side because he would not stop until the job was done right.
  The impact he had on Texans, Houstonians, and the thin blue line will 
continue to be an example for generations to come. He may have handed 
in his badge, but his legacy lives on. His family can rest easy now 
knowing the most dangerous activity he will be doing is spending most 
days out on the water with his fishing pole.
  Happy Trails to you, Duane. Thank you for a job well done and for all 
your hard work to make our Texas a safer place.
  And that is just the way it is.

                          ____________________