By: Cuellar, Henry H.R. No. 674 73R10236 JLZ-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Five-time national champion charro Gerardo "Jerry" 1-2 Diaz has achieved international fame and admiration and has brought 1-3 legions of new fans to the time-honored traditions of the Mexican 1-4 charreria with his outstanding abilities as a superb horseman and 1-5 master showman; and 1-6 WHEREAS, The son of "Pepe" Diaz, a lifelong charro and master 1-7 horseman who in the 1940s founded the first charro organization in 1-8 the United States, Jerry Diaz was born and raised to be a charro, 1-9 absorbing the ideals and the code of honor that distinguish the 1-10 Mexican caballero as well as perfecting the arts of horsemanship 1-11 and showmanship that are his trademark; and 1-12 WHEREAS, So complete and flawless is his command of the 1-13 highly trained horses he rides that, to the awed spectator, horse 1-14 and rider appear as one during their spectacular performances; his 1-15 immaculately groomed mounts respond instantly to the slightest 1-16 touch to perform the incredible feats that have earned Mr. Diaz 1-17 worldwide acclaim; and 1-18 WHEREAS, Mr. Diaz also has taken the charro's legendary skill 1-19 with a lariat to new levels of artistry, developing and executing 1-20 precision spinning rope tricks that invariably draw enthusiastic 1-21 applause from admiring spectators; incorporating that skill into 1-22 many of his routines on horseback, he has developed some of the 1-23 biggest crowdpleasers in the sport today, including some tricks he 1-24 performs while standing atop a horse as it gallops around the 2-1 arena; and 2-2 WHEREAS, In addition to competing at the annual National 2-3 Charro Championship in California, where he and his team have won 2-4 numerous individual and team trophies, Mr. Diaz also produces 2-5 colorful exhibitions that show off the superior horsemanship of men 2-6 and women equestrians against an extravagant backdrop of 2-7 traditional mariachi music and the swirling dances of folkloric 2-8 dance troupes; and 2-9 WHEREAS, A member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboy 2-10 Association, he has brought his act to wider audiences, finding 2-11 greater exposure for the traditional charro exhibitions and earning 2-12 well-deserved recognition from the association's membership, which 2-13 voted his routine Best Specialty Act in Texas; and 2-14 WHEREAS, Mr. Diaz has garnered even greater exposure outside 2-15 these traditional venues, performing before heads of state at the 2-16 international economic summit in Houston in 1990 and before 1,500 2-17 members of the press in front of the Alamo during President Bush's 2-18 drug summit in 1991; and 2-19 WHEREAS, Featured in a documentary film produced by the San 2-20 Antonio Witte Museum entitled "Thundering Hooves: Five Centuries 2-21 of Horse Power in the American West," Mr. Diaz also has achieved 2-22 recognition by presenting his exhibitions at the Belmont Stakes 2-23 International Horse Show and touring the country with the renowned 2-24 Longhorn World Championship Rodeo and other prominent rodeos; and 2-25 WHEREAS, Because his act is as much a partnership between 2-26 horse and rider as it is a display of mastery, he shows the utmost 2-27 respect for the animals he rides, and whenever he is not 3-1 performing, Mr. Diaz spends most of his time with his father at the 3-2 family ranch, Charro del Bajio, near San Antonio, where the two 3-3 train and work horses; and 3-4 WHEREAS, He also has shown considerable dedication in 3-5 preserving and passing the time-honored customs and traditions to a 3-6 new generation and to this end gives generously of his time and 3-7 energy conducting clinics for others wishing to follow in his and 3-8 his father's footsteps; and 3-9 WHEREAS, One of the best-known charros in the world today, 3-10 honored by the Federation of Charros with its prestigious Gold Spur 3-11 for his lifetime achievements and his lifelong dedication to 3-12 preserving and continuing an important part of our nation's 3-13 cultural legacy, Mr. Diaz is indeed deserving of special praise and 3-14 recognition; now, therefore, be it 3-15 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas 3-16 Legislature hereby commend Gerardo "Jerry" Diaz on his outstanding 3-17 achievements as a national champion charro and recognize his 3-18 significant contributions in preserving and perfecting an important 3-19 cultural institution and a part of our colorful multicultural 3-20 heritage; and, be it further 3-21 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-22 prepared for Mr. Diaz as an expression of high esteem by the Texas 3-23 House of Representatives.