WHEREAS, Bruce C. Ennis has served in the General Assembly for almost 40 years, first elected in 1982 as a State Representative and then, in 2007, elected as a State Senator; and
WHEREAS, Bruce C. Ennis is a lifelong resident of Smyrna, Delaware, where he married Grace D. Ennis, his wife of 50 years, who passed in 2017; raised his family, including 2 daughters and 2 granddaughters; and served his community in many roles; and
WHEREAS, Bruce C. Ennis joined the Delaware Air National Guard and then spent 20 years serving our State as a trooper in the Delaware State Police, from which he retired with the rank of captain; and
WHEREAS, Bruce C. Ennis is a life member of the Citizens’ Hose Co. fire department in Smyrna, serving in numerous positions in the fire department over the past 60 years, including fire chief and president; and
WHEREAS, Bruce C. Ennis has been one of the General Assembly’s strongest advocates for volunteer fire and emergency medical services, fighting for 6 years to create the State’s statewide paramedic service, which has gone on to save hundreds if not thousands of lives; and
WHEREAS, Bruce C. Ennis has also worked in the General Assembly on issues related to the community’s right-to-know in matters of the storage and transportation of hazardous materials, including serving on the State Emergency Response Commission, which is tasked with preparing the State for the release of hazardous substances; and
WHEREAS, Bruce C. Ennis has chaired the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee for many years, working to ensure our service members and veterans are honored and remembered, not only by starting the General Assembly’s annual Wreaths Across America state capitol kick-off event, but also by passing legislation to ensure honorably discharged members of the Delaware National Guard and Reserves are given the same consideration as active-duty veterans when applying for state jobs; and
WHEREAS, Bruce C. Ennis has chaired the Senate Agricultural Committee and worked to champion the preservation of open space and farmland, along with sensible land-use policies that encourage planned growth and the protection of environmentally-fragile areas along our coast; and
WHEREAS Bruce C. Ennis is a founding member and co-chair of the Delaware Sportsmen’s caucus, which advocates for responsible hunting, fishing, trapping, and conservation on Delaware’s public and private lands; and
WHEREAS, Bruce C. Ennis has dedicated his entire life to the service of our State and making our State a better place to live.
NOW, THEREFORE:
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
Section 1. The Blackbird State Forest’s Meadows Tract is renamed the “Ennis Tract”.
Section 2. The Department of Agriculture shall place appropriate signage to inform the public that the Blackbird State Forest’s Meadows Tract is renamed the “Ennis Tract”, including informational signage on Senator Bruce C. Ennis’s achievements.
SYNOPSIS
This Act renames the Blackbird State Forest’s Meadows Tract the “Ennis Tract” in honor of Senator Bruce C. Ennis.
The Blackbird State Forest’s Meadows Tract covers 456 acres with open meadows, forested trails, and three ponds, and includes one of Delaware’s two forest education centers. The Meadows Tract is part of an ecologically critical zone connecting the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays. The Blackbird State Forest is managed by the Department of Agriculture and is a popular destination for hiking, horseback riding, nature watching, camping, and hunting.
Author: Senator Pettyjohn
