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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Memories of a life well lived remain to comfort the |
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family and friends of Neal Gay, who passed away on August 11, 2022, |
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at the age of 96; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on June 25, 1926, in Dallas, Neal Gay was the |
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son of Elsie Mae and Malond Gay; he joined the U.S. Coast Guard when |
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he was 17, and shortly thereafter, he was transferred to the |
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U.S. Navy; he served in World War II for about a year until he was |
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injured while shipboard; after returning home, he entered his first |
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rodeo in Atoka, Oklahoma, in 1945, and he became an early member of |
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the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association; he went on to |
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distinguish himself as a talented steer wrestler and saddle bronc, |
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bareback, and bull rider; in his early years, he supported his rodeo |
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endeavors by selling used cars and real estate; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Gay embarked on a long and successful career as |
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a rodeo producer in May 1958, when he opened the Mesquite |
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Championship Rodeo; he served as its founder and producer for 51 |
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years, and he and his family also went on to manage many other North |
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Texas rodeos throughout the 1970s and 1980s; furthermore, he was |
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the contract producer of the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo for |
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over four decades; in recognition of his many accomplishments, he |
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was inducted into the Bull Riding Hall of Fame, the Texas Trail of |
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Fame, the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame, the Texas Cowboy Hall of |
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Fame, and the ProRodeo Hall of Fame; and |
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WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Mr. Gay enjoyed the love and |
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support of his treasured family, including his wife, Kay, his sons, |
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Pete, Donnie, and Jim, and his granddaughters, Talli, Megan, and |
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Summer; he was known for his integrity, his keen business sense, and |
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his strong faith, as well as his love for his ranch and his |
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livestock; and |
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WHEREAS, A devoted family man and a true Texas cowboy, Neal |
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Gay leaves behind a legacy that will long resonate in the Lone Star |
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State and beyond; 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 Neal Gay and extend |
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deepest condolences to all those who mourn his passing; and, be it |
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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 Neal Gay. |