[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 15358]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING CHIEF DONALD R. OLIVER ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. G.K. BUTTERFIELD

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 2, 2017

  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize my friend Donald R. 
Oliver as he retires as Chief of the City of Wilson, North Carolina 
Fire/Rescue Service located in my congressional district where he has 
led the department since 1992.
  Chief Oliver began his firefighting career in Wichita, Kansas 50 
years ago with the Wichita Fire Department. It was there that he met 
his wife Linda who worked at the Department as a fire-dispatcher.
  After serving the people of Wichita as a firefighter, the two moved 
to Thornton, Colorado where Chief Oliver served as a firefighter for 
nearly 20 years and moved up the ranks first as Lieutenant, then 
Training Officer, Assistant Chief and ultimately Chief.
  Mr. Speaker, in 1992, Chief Oliver moved to my hometown of Wilson, 
North Carolina and began serving as Chief of the Wilson Fire/Rescue 
Service. He is the longest serving Chief of the Fire/Rescue Service in 
the history of our great City and I know I speak for residents of the 
City in thanking Chief Oliver for working day and night to keep us 
safe.
  In addition to his duties as Chief of the City of Wilson's Fire/
Rescue Service, Chief Oliver represented his fellow firefighters on the 
International Association of Fire Chiefs Fire Prevention Committee 
where he served as Chair. The worldwide association represents the 
leadership of firefighters and emergency responders. Chief Oliver 
served as President of the National Fire Protection Association from 
1996 until 2004 and was a charter member of the National Society of 
Executive Fire Officers. He also was a member of the Board of Visitors 
for the National Fire Academy from 1996 until 2009.
  Mr. Speaker, for a quarter century, Chief Oliver has led the City of 
Wilson Fire/Rescue Service. He has been responsible not only for 
protecting the lives of the residents of our City, but also those who 
served under his capable leadership. I am grateful for his work.
  So on behalf of the United States House of Representatives and the 
residents of the First Congressional District of North Carolina, I 
thank Chief Donald R. Oliver for his enormous sacrifices over his great 
career and wish him well as he retires from honorable service.

                          ____________________