[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 18, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E323-E324]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING CHIEF RICHARD THOMAS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 18, 2023

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor 
Woodland Fire Department Battalion Chief Richard Thomas in honor of his 
retirement and service to our community.
  Chief Thomas was born in Vallejo, California and grew up in Crockett, 
California. At the age

[[Page E324]]

of 16, he joined the Crockett Fire Department as a volunteer and later 
went on to obtain an Associate of Arts degree in Fire Science from 
Columbia Junior College. While in college, Chief Thomas worked and 
lived at the firehouse as a member of the sleeper program. He 
eventually joined CalFire as a sleeper serving at the Twain Harte and 
Sonoma stations.
  In 1986, Chief Thomas joined the Woodland Fire Department as a 
Firefighter after ranking first on their fire service test. His 
dedication to fire service and Woodland persisted while commuting from 
Crockett for his first year of service. Seventeen years after joining 
the Woodland Fire Department, Chief Thomas was promoted to the rank of 
fire captain in August of 2003. While serving in the Woodland Fire 
Department, he was acknowledged by the City of Woodland with a 
Proclamation for rescuing a victim from a house fire in zero visibility 
conditions.
  Chief Thomas was promoted to battalion chief in December of 2012. He 
has been involved in many aspects of the Woodland Fire Department, 
including the Fire Department Honor Guard, Arson Investigation Team, 
and he is President of the Woodland Firefighters Association. 
Additionally, he built the department's first-grade program, an 
educational program dedicated to teaching kids about fire service. This 
program is still in use today throughout all schools in Woodland.
  When not on duty, Chief Thomas loves spending time with his fire 
family and his non-fire family. He has also been a baseball coach for 
the last twelve years and enjoys volunteering.
  Mr. Speaker, Chief Richard Thomas is deeply appreciated for his 
decades of selfless service and commitment to the Woodland Fire 
Department and our community. His efforts have made our district a 
safer and more enjoyable place to live. Therefore, it is fitting and 
proper that we honor him here today.

                          ____________________