2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26106481D

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 102

Offered February 10, 2026

Commending Dillard E. Ferguson, Jr.

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Patron—Garrett

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WHEREAS, Dillard E. Ferguson, Jr., Fire-Rescue Chief of the Goochland County Department of Fire-Rescue and Emergency Services, is receiving the Governor's Chief Officer of the Year award for 2025 at the Governor's Fire Service Awards during the Virginia Fire Rescue Conference in Virginia Beach on February 18, 2026; and

WHEREAS, Dillard “Eddie” E. Ferguson, Jr., began his firefighting and emergency rescue services career at the age of 16, becoming one of Goochland County's first Advanced Life Support providers, and rose through the ranks to serve as company officer, District Chief, and volunteer Deputy Chief of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) before becoming the county's first career Deputy Chief of EMS in 2004; and

WHEREAS, after leading key initiatives as the Deputy Chief of EMS that bolstered and modernized Goochland County's EMS system, Eddie Ferguson was appointed to serve as Fire-Rescue Chief of the Goochland County Department of Fire-Rescue and Emergency Services in 2019; and

WHEREAS, in his role as Fire-Rescue Chief, Eddie Ferguson enhanced the department's ability to fulfill its mission through fleet, equipment, station, and infrastructure upgrades, productive regional partnerships, and initiatives that strengthened operational readiness; and

WHEREAS, Eddie Ferguson has promoted fire safety and prevention in the community through a number of educational endeavors, including reviving the Goochland Fire Show and formalizing the fire safety curriculum at Goochland County Public Schools; and

WHEREAS, as a testament to Eddie Ferguson's exceptional leadership, the Goochland County Department of Fire-Rescue and Emergency Services has earned the Governor's Award for Excellence in Virginia Fire Services and improved its Insurance Services Office rating during his tenure as Fire-Rescue Chief; and

WHEREAS, Eddie Ferguson's service beyond Goochland County includes assignments on Chesterfield County's hazardous incident response team and the Virginia State Police Med-Flight 1 program, which he continues to volunteer with monthly; and

WHEREAS, Eddie Ferguson has been a tireless advocate for public safety and emergency preparedness in the Commonwealth in his capacity as a member of the Central Virginia Fire Chiefs Association, the Virginia Department of Health's Office of EMS Medical Direction Committee, the State EMS Advisory Board Executive Committee, and the Old Dominion Emergency Medical Services Alliance Air Medical Committee, where, due to his extensive flight experience, he has been able to offer valuable insights into regional air medical operations; and

WHEREAS, Eddie Ferguson has given generously of his time to train the next generation of emergency responders as an EMS instructor with the Virginia Commonwealth University Center for Trauma and Critical Care Education and as an instructor with Chesterfield County Fire and EMS; and

WHEREAS, through his exemplary leadership, integrity, and dedication, Eddie Ferguson has advanced firefighting and rescue services both in Goochland County and throughout the Commonwealth; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Dillard E. Ferguson, Jr., Fire-Rescue Chief of the Goochland County Department of Fire-Rescue and Emergency Services, hereby be commended for receiving the 2025 Governor's Chief Officer of the Year award and for his 43 years of distinguished service on behalf of Goochland County and the Commonwealth; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Dillard E. Ferguson, Jr., as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for his contributions to the Commonwealth.