House Joint Resolution 25-1007

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 25-1007

BY REPRESENTATIVE(S) Clifford, Armagost, Bacon, Barron, Bird, Boesenecker, Bottoms, Bradfield, Bradley, Brooks, Brown, Caldwell, Camacho, Carter, Espenoza, Feret, Froelich, Garcia, Garcia Sander, Gilchrist, Gonzalez R., Hamrick, Hartsook, Jackson, Johnson, Joseph, Keltie, Lieder, Lindsay, Lindstedt, Luck, Lukens, Mabrey, Marshall, Martinez, Mauro, McCormick, Paschal, Phillips, Pugliese, Richardson, Ricks, Rutinel, Rydin, Sirota, Smith, Soper, Stewart K., Stewart R., Story, Suckla, Taggart, Titone, Valdez, Weinberg, Willford, Winter T., Woodrow, Woog, Zokaie, McCluskie, Duran;

also SENATOR(S) Bridges and Carson, Amabile, Baisley, Ball, Bright, Catlin, Cutter, Danielson, Daugherty, Exum, Frizell, Gonzales J., Hinrichsen, Jaquez Lewis, Kipp, Kirkmeyer, Kolker, Liston, Lundeen, Marchman, Michaelson Jenet, Mullica, Pelton B., Pelton R., Rich, Roberts, Rodriguez, Simpson, Snyder, Sullivan, Weissman, Winter F., Coleman.

CONCERNING THE DESIGNATION OF UNITED STATES INTERSTATE 25 SOUTHBOUND FROM MILE MARKER 199.4 AND INTERSTATE 25 NORTHBOUND MILE MARKER 194.8 AS "FIREFIGHTERS MEMORIAL HWY IN MEMORY OF CHIEF TROY JACKSON".

WHEREAS, Troy Jackson was born on August 28, 1968, in Englewood, Colorado; and

WHEREAS, Troy Jackson was raised in Littleton, Colorado; and

WHEREAS, Troy Jackson was a nationally ranked BMX rider and graduate of the Class of 1986 at Heritage High School where he met his high school sweetheart and future wife, Lori; and

WHEREAS, Troy Jackson excelled academically, obtaining his undergraduate and master's degrees while an active firefighter; and

WHEREAS, Along with his academic accomplishments, Troy Jackson was drawn to a life of service as a firefighter, which he remained in for three decades; and

WHEREAS, Troy Jackson was hired as a firefighter in 1990 with the Castlewood Fire Protection District, which ultimately became South Metro Fire Rescue, and he was promoted to Engineer in 1995; Lieutenant in 1997; Captain in 2005; Training Bureau Chief in 2015; and then to Assistant Chief of Operations in 2016; and

WHEREAS, Troy Jackson was diagnosed with a rare job-related terminal cancer, adenoid cystic carcinoma, in December of 2012; and

WHEREAS, Throughout the challenges with his illness, Troy Jackson remained triumphant, a phenomenal leader, and dedicated to improving health outcomes for others by starting programs to prevent job-related cancer in hopes no firefighter would have to endure what he, his family, and his coworkers had to go through; and

WHEREAS, Troy Jackson initiated policies and developed equipment to promote aggressive firefighter decontamination following fires, and these policies have since spread across the United States; and

WHEREAS, Troy Jackson's hope and prayer was that the fire service would continue to improve the programs needed to prevent and eliminate job-related cancers; and

WHEREAS, Troy Jackson succumbed to his illness on December 16, 2019; and

WHEREAS, Troy Jackson's legacy and sacrifice have been honored at the Colorado Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Lakewood, the International Association of Fire Fighters Memorial in Colorado Springs, and the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Emmitsburg, Maryland; and

WHEREAS, South Metro Fire Rescue's training center was named in Troy's honor, and the Littleton Elks Lodge #1650 has named their annual Firefighter of the Year award in honor of Troy; and

WHEREAS, Chief Troy Jackson served his community and lived his life with honor, dignity, and integrity, and was a hero to all who knew him; and

WHEREAS, It is only fitting that Troy Jackson be recognized so that we may not forget his sacrifice to our great State; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Seventy-fifth General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the Senate concurring herein:

(1)  That the portion of United States Interstate 25 Southbound from mile marker 199.4 and Interstate 25 Northbound mile marker 194.8 be designated as "Firefighters Memorial Hwy In Memory Of Chief Troy Jackson" to honor the memory and legacy of Troy Jackson, a man described by loved ones as fiercely loving and devoted;

(2)  That the Colorado Department of Transportation may accept and expend gifts, grants, and donations for the purposes of the initial placement of signs to mark United States Interstate 25 Southbound from mile marker 199.4 and Interstate 25 Northbound mile marker 194.8 as the "Firefighters Memorial Hwy In Memory of Chief Troy Jackson"; and

(3)  That the Colorado Department of Transportation may explore a cooperative agreement with the Board of County Commissioners for Arapahoe and Douglas counties for the maintenance of the signs marking the "Firefighters Memorial Hwy In Memory of Chief Troy Jackson".

Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent to Troy Jackson's wife, Lori; his daughter, Carley; his son, Covey, and his daughter-in-law, Courtney; his parents, Donna and Paul Jackson; the Board of South Metro Fire Rescue; the Board of County Commissioners in Arapahoe County; and the Board of County Commissioners in Douglas County.