By: Zaffirini, Montford, Madla S.R. No. 740
1-1 SENATE RESOLUTION
1-2 WHEREAS, Because the cultural and economic development of
1-3 this state historically has been closely associated with the rise
1-4 of the cattle industry in the late 19th century, one of the most
1-5 enduring popular images of a typical Texan is often that of a
1-6 cowboy on a horse riding the range, tending cattle; and
1-7 WHEREAS, Although this image often has been romanticized
1-8 and mythologized, many of the elements that went into its creation
1-9 were the products of the hard work and long hours the cowboy had to
1-10 endure in real life; despite the myths and legends, the life of a
1-11 cowboy meant developing and perfecting a myriad of skills essential
1-12 in his daily work, which required mastery astride a horse or with
1-13 rope in hand; and
1-14 WHEREAS, Cowboys took great pride in honing their everyday
1-15 skills and often took advantage of their leisure hours to show off
1-16 these skills in friendly competition with their fellow ranch hands;
1-17 out of this desire to hone and display their hard-earned skills
1-18 evolved an institution that has endured to the present time, the
1-19 rodeo; and
1-20 WHEREAS, Many feats that make up the principal events of
1-21 the modern rodeo--bareback and saddle bronc riding, calf roping,
1-22 bull riding, steer wrestling, and single steer roping--were
1-23 performed originally not as a means of entertainment but as a part
2-1 of the work of a cattle roundup in the days of the open range
2-2 cattle industry; in fact, the word "rodeo" itself is derived from
2-3 the Spanish word for roundup; and
2-4 WHEREAS, On July 4, 1883, the foremen of several far West
2-5 Texas ranches in the vicinity of the Pecos staged a rodeo that soon
2-6 became a popular annual event among local ranch hands; what set
2-7 this particular event apart from previous rodeos was the fact that,
2-8 for the first time in history, cowboys competed for prizes as well
2-9 as for the approval and respect of their peers, thus setting the
2-10 stage for the subsequent rise of the rodeo as both a major popular
2-11 sport and a significant cultural phenomenon; and
2-12 WHEREAS, That event of 1883 in later years became known as
2-13 the West of the Pecos Rodeo and now is highly regarded as one of
2-14 the premier events in this uniquely American sport; having remained
2-15 true to its roots, the 110-year-old Pecos rodeo recently was voted
2-16 the top rodeo on the Texas circuit by members of the Professional
2-17 Rodeo Cowboys Association; and
2-18 WHEREAS, A cowboy extravaganza held over four days around
2-19 the Fourth of July each year, this grandfather of all rodeos remains
2-20 one of the most popular rodeos in the state for spectators and
2-21 contestants alike, drawing thousands of aficionados from across the
2-22 state and nation to the West Texas town of Pecos; and
2-23 WHEREAS, While other rodeos have followed suit and attained
2-24 a large measure of success on their own merits, they nevertheless
2-25 owe their existence to the success achieved by their illustrious
3-1 predecessor; widely recognized as the first event of its kind, the
3-2 West of the Pecos Rodeo deserves its acclaim as the oldest rodeo in
3-3 the world; now, therefore, be it
3-4 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
3-5 73rd Legislature, hereby recognize the West of the Pecos Rodeo as
3-6 the oldest rodeo in the world and honor the town of Pecos' claim
3-7 to being the Home of the World's First Rodeo; and, be it further
3-8 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be
3-9 prepared for the City of Pecos as an expression of high esteem
3-10 from the Texas Senate.
3-11 _____________________________________
3-12 President of the Senate
3-13 I hereby certify that the
3-14 above Resolution was adopted by
3-15 the Senate on April 27, 1993.
3-16 _____________________________________
3-17 Secretary of the Senate
3-18 _____________________________________
3-19 Member, Texas Senate
3-20 _____________________________________
3-21 Member, Texas Senate
3-22 _____________________________________
3-23 Member, Texas Senate