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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The life of an esteemed community leader and |
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legendary rodeo showman drew to a close with the passing of |
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W. R. Watt Jr. of Fort Worth on November 9, 2022, at the age of 88; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Fort Worth on March 29, 1934, Bob Watt was |
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the son of W. R. Watt Sr. and the former Helen Wallace; he grew up |
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with the companionship of his brother, Tom, and from an early age, |
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he devoted considerable time to the family ranch in Throckmorton |
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County; after attending Arlington Heights High School and the Hill |
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School, he received a bachelor's degree in animal husbandry from |
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Oklahoma State University; he oversaw the cow-calf operation at |
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Watt Ranch for more than a half century, and he was a passionate |
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steward of the land and livestock; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Watt began working for the Fort Worth Stock Show |
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and Rodeo on a part-time basis in 1955, between college semesters; |
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elected to the board in 1958, he went on to serve for 64 years, |
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encompassing both a stint as secretary and a remarkable 33 years as |
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president; he was also very active in a number of other roles, from |
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assistant to the livestock and horse show managers to general |
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manager; upon his retirement in 2010, he was named president |
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emeritus; and |
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WHEREAS, A skilled consensus-builder and man of vision, |
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Mr. Watt was instrumental in the phenomenal growth of the rodeo; |
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during his presidency, it expanded from 10 to 23 days, drawing a |
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million visitors each year as Fort Worth's most-attended annual |
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public event; along the way, Mr. Watt helped create a national |
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model for public-private funding of public events facilities; he |
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worked with local officials to effect the transformation of the |
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Will Rogers Memorial Center, and in the 1980s, he oversaw |
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development of the Amon G. Carter Jr. Exhibits Hall and the |
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world-class Will Rogers Equestrian Center; in 1996, the Stock Show |
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celebrated its centennial with the opening of the Charlie and Kit |
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Moncrief Building and its W. R. Watt Arena; funded by $11 million |
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from Stock Show supporters, the arena was named for Mr. Watt's |
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father; Mr. Watt also led the effort to fund and build the ticket |
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office and visitor's center at the main entrance of the Will Rogers |
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Memorial Center; and |
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WHEREAS, The Will Rogers Memorial Center was pivotal in Fort |
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Worth's ascension as the country's premier location for livestock |
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and equestrian competitions; annual entries from livestock and |
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equestrian exhibitors eventually surpassed 30,000, and Mr. Watt |
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founded an International Committee and facility to welcome guests |
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from approximately 55 nations; his advocacy resulted in adoption of |
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a new official name, Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show, to |
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better reflect the importance of ranchers and farmers in meeting |
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consumer demand; other innovations during his tenure included the |
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Best of Mexico Celebración and the Cowboys of Color Rodeo; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Watt shared his expertise with numerous |
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organizations; he served as director of the Professional Rodeo |
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Cowboys Association, director and president of the North American |
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Livestock Show and Rodeo Managers Association, director and |
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honorary vice president of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle |
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Raisers Association, and director of the Texas Livestock Marketing |
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Association and Texas FFA Foundation; moreover, he gave extensively |
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of his time and talents to benefit many other charitable, |
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community, and professional organizations; his efforts were key in |
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the creation of the Citizens Support Group for the Fort Worth Police |
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Department Mounted Patrol, and he continued to support its |
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endeavors, such as the provision of horses and equipment and |
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construction of a state-of-the-art equine boarding and training |
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facility; in addition, he helped establish the Tarrant County |
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chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and he was a highly engaged |
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benefactor of the North Texas Chapter; he was a director of the Jane |
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and John Justin Foundation and First Methodist Church of Fort Worth |
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Foundation, as well as a member of the board of Harris Methodist |
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Hospital; and |
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WHEREAS, Inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, |
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Mr. Watt garnered numerous accolades for his contributions to the |
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livestock industry and to his community, among them the People of |
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Vision Award, Oklahoma State University Distinguished Alumni |
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Award, Texas Hereford Association Outstanding Service Award, and |
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Longhorn Council of the Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen |
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Award; he and his father were joint recipients of the Charles |
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Goodnight Award, and in 2022, he and his family were honored with |
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the Bill King Award from the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo; for |
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all his success, he remained modest and kind; he freely expressed |
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his appreciation to the Stock Show staff, volunteers, and |
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supporters, and he was a mentor to many; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Watt enjoyed fishing, especially in the waters |
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off South Padre Island, and playing golf, particularly at River |
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Crest Country Club; above all, he cherished time spent with his |
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treasured family, whether pursuing their hobbies together, staying |
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at the ranch, or watching Stock Show rodeo performances from his box |
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at his beloved Will Rogers Coliseum; he shared a fulfilling |
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marriage with his wife, Jerri Anne Watt, and he took great pride in |
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his daughter, Susan, in his son, Trey, who preceded him in death, |
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and in his stepson, Mike; through the years, he was blessed with |
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seven grandchildren and a great-granddaughter; and |
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WHEREAS, Bob Watt made a tremendous positive impact in the |
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Fort Worth area and beyond, earning the lasting respect and |
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admiration of his fellow citizens, and although he is sadly missed |
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by all who were fortunate enough to know him, his achievements will |
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continue to resonate for years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of W. R. "Bob" Watt Jr. |
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and extend deepest sympathy to the members of his family: to his |
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wife, Jerri Anne Watt; to his daughter, Susan Watt; to his stepson, |
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Mike McCrary, and his wife, Erica; to his brother, Tom Watt, and his |
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wife, Betty; to his grandchildren, W. R. Watt IV and his wife, Mary |
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Margaret, Callie A. Watt, Weston Wills, Walton Wills, Watt Wills, |
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Davis McCrary, and Sienna McCrary; to his great-granddaughter, |
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Georgia Watt; and to his nephews, Mike Watt and his wife, Laura, and |
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Rob Watt and his wife, Peggy; pallbearers for the memorial service |
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include: Watt Wills, Walton Wills, Weston Wills, Davis McCrary, |
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Billy Bob Watt, and Reese Watt; honorary pallbearers include: Bill |
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Anderson, Brad Barnes, Ed Bass, Matt Brockman, Jim Gay, Charlie |
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Geren, Charles Lasater, Mike Sands, Bob Tallman, Roy Topham, and |
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J. R. Williams; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Bob Watt. |