By Reyna H.R. No. 57 74R1620 PAN-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The Light Crust Doughboys are widely regarded as one 1-2 of this state's most precious natural resources, having delighted 1-3 audiences from throughout the world as the pioneers and premier 1-4 performers of that unique musical genre known as western swing for 1-5 the past six decades; and 1-6 WHEREAS, The history of the band dates back to 1931 when the 1-7 Wills Fiddle Band, comprising Bob Wills on fiddle, Herman Arnspiger 1-8 on guitar, and Milton Brown on vocals, persuaded the Burrus Mill 1-9 and Elevator Company to sponsor the band on a radio show that would 1-10 advertise the mill's Light Crust Flour; after two weeks of 1-11 broadcasts, the president of Burrus Mill and future governor of 1-12 Texas, W. Lee O'Daniel, canceled the show and the ensuing uproar by 1-13 thousands of fans who were regular users of Light Crust Flour 1-14 quickly ensured the band's triumphant return to the airwaves; and 1-15 WHEREAS, Mr. O'Daniel became the announcer for the show and 1-16 created a network of radio stations known as the Southwest Quality 1-17 Network that would broadcast the Doughboys throughout Texas and 1-18 most of Oklahoma; and 1-19 WHEREAS, By 1937, some of the best musicians in the history 1-20 of western swing had joined the band, including Kenneth Pitts and 1-21 Clifford Gross on fiddle, Dick Reinhart on guitar, Marvin "Smokey" 1-22 Montgomery on tenor banjo, Ramon DeArman on bass, John "Knocky" 1-23 Parker on piano, and Muryel Campbell on lead guitar, with Cecil 1-24 Brower sitting in from time to time on the fiddle; and 2-1 WHEREAS, By the 1940s, the band's career had really begun to 2-2 take off, enhanced by broadcasts of their immensely popular radio 2-3 program, which was transmitted over 170 radio stations in the South 2-4 and Southwest; the advent of World War II brought an end to the 2-5 show and, though the Doughboys reorganized in 1946, the coming of 2-6 television signalled the end of the age of radio; and 2-7 WHEREAS, From the time their program first aired until they 2-8 signed off the air for the last time in 1951, the Light Crust 2-9 Doughboys and their illustrious alumni had crafted an important 2-10 chapter in the history of music both in this state and throughout 2-11 the country; today, the legend of the Doughboys continues with the 2-12 release of new recordings under the title "Yesterday and Today" and 2-13 a resurgence in the band's popularity under the leadership of the 2-14 group's talented producers, Marvin "Smokey" Montgomery, a Doughboy 2-15 since 1935, and Art Greenhaw, who joined the band in 1993 and is a 2-16 former member of the music panel of the Texas Commission of the 2-17 Arts; and 2-18 WHEREAS, The other gifted members of the Light Crust 2-19 Doughboys include Jerry Elliott on guitar and vocals, Bill Simmons 2-20 on keyboards, Johnny Strawn on violin, John Walden on violin, Jamie 2-21 Shipman on vocals, John Anderson on trumpet, Bob Krenkel on 2-22 clarinet and saxophone, and Bud Dresser on trombone and flugelhorn; 2-23 and 2-24 WHEREAS, The Light Crust Doughboys' affection and admiration 2-25 for the Lone Star State have been proudly proclaimed to listeners 2-26 worldwide through their performances of such renowned favorites as 2-27 "The Light Crust Doughboys Theme Song," "Beautiful Texas," "Yellow 3-1 Rose of Texas," and "Sure 'Nuf Texan," to name but a few; and 3-2 WHEREAS, For more than 64 years, the Light Crust Doughboys 3-3 have covered the best of American music, reflecting the sounds of 3-4 western swing, early Texas radio, the blues, Dixieland, and big 3-5 band in their performances, while promoting the proud spirit and 3-6 heritage of our state; they are indeed deserving of our highest 3-7 praise and recognition for their continuing contributions in this 3-8 regard; now, therefore, be it 3-9 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 3-10 Legislature hereby proclaim the Light Crust Doughboys as official 3-11 music ambassadors for the State of Texas and commend them for the 3-12 great pleasure they have brought to so many people over the course 3-13 of their career and for their singular achievements in the field of 3-14 music; and, be it further 3-15 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-16 prepared for the Light Crust Doughboys as an expression of high 3-17 regard by the Texas House of Representatives.