1-1 By: Siebert (Senate Sponsor - Wentworth) H.C.R. No. 21 1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 5, 1997; 1-3 May 6, 1997, read first time and referred to Committee on 1-4 Administration; May 15, 1997, reported favorably, as amended, by 1-5 the following vote: Yeas 5, Nays 0; May 15, 1997, sent to 1-6 printer.) 1-7 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO. 1 By: Moncrief 1-8 Amend HCR 21 as follows: 1-9 On page 1, line 46, between "in" and "Houston" insert 1-10 "Fort Worth,". 1-11 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-12 WHEREAS, Texas is blessed with a rich and colorful history, 1-13 and no event captures the unique spirit of the Lone Star State 1-14 better than rodeo; and 1-15 WHEREAS, The cattle industry of the Southwest flourished 1-16 throughout the 1800s, but the fencing of the open range in the 1-17 latter part of that century forever changed the nomadic existence 1-18 of the cowboy; bronc riding and roping contests at community 1-19 celebrations quickly gained popularity as opportunities for cowboys 1-20 to test their skills against counterparts from other ranches, and 1-21 these informal contests eventually gave way to organized 1-22 competitions that awarded prize money to the top finishers; and 1-23 WHEREAS, From the earliest days of the sport, Texas has 1-24 played a key role in the development of the modern rodeo; the 1-25 world's first recorded rodeo was held in Pecos in 1883, and Fort 1-26 Worth staged the first indoor rodeo in 1917; Rockdale's legendary 1-27 Bill Pickett laid the foundation for the popular steer-wrestling 1-28 event when he developed a method of bulldogging a steer by the lip, 1-29 and his success on the rodeo circuit opened the door for other 1-30 African American cowboys; and 1-31 WHEREAS, Problems soon emerged for the competitors, however, 1-32 and when the need for an organization representing the cowboys' 1-33 interests became apparent, Texas was again at the leading edge; the 1-34 Rodeo Cowboys Association, the forerunner to today's famed 1-35 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), was established in 1-36 Houston in 1945, and renowned Bandera calf roper Toots Mansfield, a 1-37 seven-time world champion, was installed as its first president; 1-38 and 1-39 WHEREAS, Female competitors such as Fort Worth's Barbara Inez 1-40 "Tad" Lucas also gained fame and fortune on the rodeo circuit in 1-41 the early part of this century, and cowgirls eventually banded 1-42 together to establish the Women's Professional Rodeo Association in 1-43 San Angelo; many of these women have been honored for their unique 1-44 contributions in the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame, which is 1-45 located in Fort Worth; and 1-46 WHEREAS, Today, internationally known rodeos in Houston and 1-47 San Antonio, as well as countless others across the state, continue 1-48 the Lone Star rodeo legacy and preserve this invaluable link to our 1-49 past; no other sport so embodies the independence, fortitude, and 1-50 courage exhibited by our state's forebears, and thus the rodeo 1-51 holds a special place in the hearts of all Texans; now, therefore, 1-52 be it 1-53 RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas 1-54 hereby declare rodeo to be the official sport of Texas. 1-55 * * * * *