H.R. No. 493 R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is a gala 1-2 charity event that contributes millions of dollars in scholarships, 1-3 agricultural research programs, college endowments, and other 1-4 educationally related assistance in Texas each year; and 1-5 WHEREAS, During this year's 61st anniversary celebration, the 1-6 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo broke many of its own impressive 1-7 records; 1,568,266 people, including 2,265 foreign visitors from 55 1-8 different countries, attended the event, surpassing the previous 1-9 year's attendance total by four percent; 16 of the 18 rodeo 1-10 performances given were sellouts, with eight of those establishing 1-11 individual performance records and Garth Brooks' performance 1-12 setting an all-time record of 62,718 attendees; and 1-13 WHEREAS, Additionally, total auction sales were $6,850,092, 1-14 topping 1992 sales by well over half a million dollars, and six 1-15 auction sales set new world records: $350,000 for the grand 1-16 champion steer, $77,000 for the grand champion barrow, $65,000 for 1-17 the grand champion turkey, $45,000 each for the reserve grand 1-18 champion pen of broilers and the reserve grand champion turkey, and 1-19 $38,000 for the reserve grand champion barrow; and 1-20 WHEREAS, The Houston Rodeo is one of the world's richest 1-21 rodeos; this year's big winner among the 444 contestants competing 1-22 for $618,403 in prize money was Ty Murray of Stephenville, who won 1-23 the All-Around Cowboy title as well as $46,713.92; and 1-24 WHEREAS, Since 1957, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo 2-1 Scholarship Program has awarded scholarships to more than 3,000 2-2 students, at a cost exceeding $28 million; in 1993 alone, over $1 2-3 million was generated for the creation of perpetual scholarships; 2-4 and 2-5 WHEREAS, The tremendous success of this event was due to 2-6 strong community and corporate support and a phenomenal effort on 2-7 the part of the event's 9,581 volunteers, who gave so generously of 2-8 their time, energy, and expertise in a variety of essential and 2-9 often difficult capacities to ensure the success of this vital 2-10 undertaking; and 2-11 WHEREAS, Over the years, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo 2-12 has contributed significantly to the character and economic 2-13 well-being of the Lone Star State and to the education of its young 2-14 people, and it is indeed appropriate that the organizers of this 2-15 grand Texas institution receive the recognition and praise they so 2-16 justly deserve; now, therefore, be it 2-17 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas 2-18 Legislature hereby honor the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo for 2-19 its many outstanding contributions to the State of Texas and extend 2-20 heartfelt best wishes to its organizers for continued success in 2-21 the future; and, be it further 2-22 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-23 prepared for the 1993 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Committee as 2-24 an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. 2-25 an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. 2-26 Yarbrough 2-27 H.R. No. 493 3-1 _______________________________ 3-2 Speaker of the House 3-3 I certify that H.R. No. 493 was adopted by the House on April 3-4 5, 1993, by a non-record vote. 3-5 _______________________________ 3-6 Chief Clerk of the House