Honor Firefighter for 50 Years

Firefighter of the Year Award, and was elevated to the esteemed rank

of Honorary Captain of Truck Company 2; and

WHEREAS, Donald Franz has also been a member of numerous Truck

committees lending his technical expertise and experience, and served as

the Department's First Aid Captain; and

WHEREAS, In 1988, Donald Franz received Mineola Fire Department's

highest recognition, the prestigious Firefighter of the Year Award; and

WHEREAS, Donald Franz joined the Mineola Volunteer Ambulance Corps

(MVAC) in 1979; he went on to become one of the Corps longest serving

active members with 37 years of service; and

WHEREAS, Through the years, Donald Franz held the titles of Captain

from 1996-2001, and Safety Officer from 2001-2006; he then stepped up to

fill an unexpected vacancy in the chiefs' office; one year later, he was

named Honorary Chief; and

WHEREAS, Throughout his tenure, Donald Franz was the recipient of

numerous awards and accolades including the MVAC EMT of the Year Award,

Garden City American Legion Law and Order Award and the 1999 Nassau

County REMSCO BLS Provider of the Year Award, as well as the 2004 and

2012 EMS Leadership Award Honorable Mention by REMSCO; and

WHEREAS, In addition to his volunteer service, Donald Franz worked

for the Nassau County Sheriff's Department, and became a career

firefighter with the Garden City Fire Department in 1974; and

WHEREAS, Donald Franz quickly rose through the ranks, attaining the

title of Lieutenant; in this role, he coordinated training for the new

members; he was named the 1995 Garden City Fire Department Firefighter

of the Year, the only career firefighter to be bestowed with this

esteemed honor; in 2006, Donald officially retired from the Department

after 32 years of service; and

WHEREAS, Throughout his 50 years of dedicated service, Donald Franz

has always been willing to lend a hand or offer a bit of advice; he

often helped other departments, without asking for any recognition; and

WHEREAS, Donald Franz is also a lifelong member of Boy Scout Troop

45, where he serves as Assistant Scoutmaster; and

WHEREAS, With him throughout have been his wife, Marla; their two

sons, Chris and Bobby; and their seven grandchildren, Bryan, Timothy,

Thomas, James, Jack, Stephen and Michaela, all of whom have shown him

love and support and rejoice in his many achievements; and

WHEREAS, It takes a special dedication, a strong desire to help

others and a tireless sense of community to forsake precious time with

family and friends to respond to the signal that a neighbor is in need;

Honorary Captain Donald Franz is such a firefighter; throughout 50 years

of devoted service, this firefighter heroically performed, above and

beyond the call of duty, those responsibilities which define the task of

fire protection; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to

commend Honorary Captain Donald Franz upon the occasion of his

designation for special recognition after 50 years of dedicated service

to the Truck Company 2, of the Mineola Fire Department; and be it

further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be

transmitted to Honorary Captain Donald Franz.