By Siebert H.C.R. No. 21 75R2191 BNL-D HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, Texas is blessed with a rich and colorful history, 1-2 and no event captures the unique spirit of the Lone Star State 1-3 better than rodeo; and 1-4 WHEREAS, The cattle industry of the Southwest flourished 1-5 throughout the 1800s, but the fencing of the open range in the 1-6 latter part of that century forever changed the nomadic existence 1-7 of the cowboy; bronc riding and roping contests at community 1-8 celebrations quickly gained popularity as opportunities for cowboys 1-9 to test their skills against counterparts from other ranches, and 1-10 these informal contests eventually gave way to organized 1-11 competitions that awarded prize money to the top finishers; and 1-12 WHEREAS, From the earliest days of the sport, Texas has 1-13 played a key role in the development of the modern rodeo; the 1-14 world's first recorded rodeo was held in Pecos in 1883, and Fort 1-15 Worth staged the first indoor rodeo in 1917; Rockdale's legendary 1-16 Bill Pickett laid the foundation for the popular steer-wrestling 1-17 event when he developed a method of bulldogging a steer by the lip, 1-18 and his success on the rodeo circuit opened the door for other 1-19 African American cowboys; and 1-20 WHEREAS, Problems soon emerged for the competitors, however, 1-21 and when the need for an organization representing the cowboys' 1-22 interests became apparent, Texas was again at the leading edge; the 1-23 Rodeo Cowboys Association, the forerunner to today's famed 1-24 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), was established in 2-1 Houston in 1945, and renowned Bandera calf roper Toots Mansfield, a 2-2 seven-time world champion, was installed as its first president; 2-3 and 2-4 WHEREAS, Female competitors such as Fort Worth's Barbara Inez 2-5 "Tad" Lucas also gained fame and fortune on the rodeo circuit in 2-6 the early part of this century, and cowgirls eventually banded 2-7 together to establish the Women's Professional Rodeo Association in 2-8 San Angelo; many of these women have been honored for their unique 2-9 contributions in the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame, which is 2-10 located in Fort Worth; and 2-11 WHEREAS, Today, internationally known rodeos in Houston and 2-12 San Antonio, as well as countless others across the state, continue 2-13 the Lone Star rodeo legacy and preserve this invaluable link to our 2-14 past; no other sport so embodies the independence, fortitude, and 2-15 courage exhibited by our state's forebears, and thus the rodeo 2-16 holds a special place in the hearts of all Texans; now, therefore, 2-17 be it 2-18 RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-19 hereby declare rodeo to be the official sport of Texas.