The Louisiana State House of Representatives, led by Rep. Mike Johnson of Bossier City, has prepared a formal Expression of Condolences honoring former Shreveport Fire Chief Dallas Greene, who died Monday night. According to Johnson, "Our Shreveport/Bossier area delegation will introduce a formal Resolution honoring Chief Greene at our earliest available opportunity during the upcoming Regular Session, and the tribute will be fitting."

Rep. Johnson, the son of a Shreveport fireman, also wrote this tribute to Greene on social media:

"We are so sad to receive the news this morning of the passing of retired Shreveport Fire Chief Dallas Greene, who was one of the best men I ever knew, and was universally loved and respected by everyone. I always thought of him as another grandfather to me and my siblings.

After my dad, an Asst. Chief, got critically burned and permanently disabled in the line of duty in the Dixie Cold Storage Plant explosion in 1987, Chief Greene helped our family walk through that tragedy as if we were his own. He came each morning to the waiting room of the LSU Burn Unit, brought meals and watched over my mom, and arranged to have a firefighter on duty with us 24/7. He told my mom that her father, Newt Messina, his dear friend who had passed away three years earlier, would want him to take care of her. Chief Greene was regarded as a hero in our house.

Before my grandfather passed, he and the Chief and a few other close friends met at least weekly at his downtown restaurant, Newt's PoBoy. I bussed tables there when I was a kid and loved serving them lunch. The Chief always had a warm smile and a great tip--and always took time to give me a wise word of encouragement.

Chief Greene was a perfect model of a servant leader, and a consummate Christian gentleman. When I was 13, I gave him a gift of an oil painting that I had worked on for many weeks and that I considered my "masterpiece." I was so proud to present it to him. Although it was truly nothing remarkable, he received it like it was the greatest piece of art he had ever seen. 

He was one of those selfless leaders who can never be replaced, and his legacy is one of honor and integrity. Dallas Greene deserves all the kind things that will appropriately be remembered about him this week.

"A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver and gold." -Proverbs 2"

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