CAPCOG recognized the region’s former Texas Division of Emergency Management District Coordinator, Jack Doebbler, with its Jack Griesenbeck Leadership in Regionalism Award during its annual General Assembly Meeting on Wednesday. Doebbler has spent countless hours serving communities in the 10-county region when they need it most – during disasters.
“As the district coordinator for the CAPCOG region, Jack was dedicated to helping cities and counties establish, build and maintain cohesive and trusting relationship within our governments,” said Llano County Judge Ron Cunningham, who nominated Doebbler for the award. “During critical incidents, Jack not only responded, but worked tirelessly to ensure we received proper response from other cities, counties as well as state and federal agencies. Through his work, the region’s growth has been balanced with effective emergency response plans that provide safety of our residents and visitors.”
Doebbler has assisted and partnered in providing state resources for response and mitigation efforts to natural and man-made disasters to include the Llano and Blanco county floods in October 2018, Hurricane Harvey’s flooding in August 2017, the deadly Caldwell County Hot Air Balloon Accident in July 2016, and the Bastrop County Complex Fire in October 2011. He also has assisted the region by preparing training exercises, contributing to regional response plans as part of CAPCOG’s Homeland Security Task Force, and leading emergency management training for the region’s elected officials and public safety personnel.
“I have worked with Mr. Doebbler through five Presidentially declared disasters and a type I aviation accident,” said Martin Ritchey, CAPCOG Homeland Security director, “and in each case his ability to muster resources made all the difference in the world.”
The Jack Griesenbeck award is named after a former Bastrop County judge who served as CAPCOG’s first chair in 1970 and then became the first president of the Texas Association of Regional Councils — the state association representing Texas’ 24 councils of governments. It honors someone who plays a pivotal role in strengthening the Capital Area through their actions and who consistently advocates a regional and multijurisdictional approach through their work with local governments and other organizations. Other award recipients have included Texas Senator Kirk Watson; Texas Representative Paul Workman; Dr. W. Neal Kocurek; Robert J Huston, former Texas Commission on Environmental Quality chair; and Bob Daigh, former Texas Department of Transportation Austin District Engineer.
