By Driver                                            H.C.R. No. 327

         75R17427 SAJ-D                           

                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-1           WHEREAS, The Texas Legislature is proud to recognize this

 1-2     state's long history of involvement with cheerleading, that unique

 1-3     mix of athleticism, spirit, and dance that has evolved from being a

 1-4     sideline activity into a crowd-pleasing attraction in its own

 1-5     right; and

 1-6           WHEREAS, The National Cheerleaders Association was

 1-7     established in Dallas in 1948 and is the oldest and most respected

 1-8     organization of its kind in the country, and in keeping with its

 1-9     philosophy of promoting cheerleading and dance as positive athletic

1-10     pursuits for young people, the group is sponsoring the first State

1-11     of Texas Cheerleading Championship, to be held in Austin in

1-12     December 1997; and

1-13           WHEREAS, This exciting event will enable more than 3,000

1-14     participants to test their skills by competing in 14 divisions, and

1-15     finalists will have the privilege of advancing to the National High

1-16     School Cheerleading and Dance Championship in Dallas; and

1-17           WHEREAS, The history of cheerleading dates back to the late

1-18     1800s, when male volunteers led spectators to root their college

1-19     teams to victory, and in 1898, University of Minnesota student,

1-20     Johnny Campbell, became one of the first formally designated yell

1-21     marshals in the country; and

1-22           WHEREAS, Cheerleading became a predominantly female activity

1-23     by the 1950s, when the pursuit's popularity had spread to the

1-24     elementary, junior high, and high school levels; its popularity has

 2-1     continued to increase dramatically through the years, and it is

 2-2     estimated that our country is now home to more than 600,000

 2-3     cheerleaders; and

 2-4           WHEREAS, The National Cheerleaders Association promotes the

 2-5     highest qualities of the sport, holding instructional camps and

 2-6     instituting high standards of safety; the organization currently

 2-7     trains and administers events for more than 30,000 cheerleaders and

 2-8     dancers in Texas, and it has trained more than 4 million

 2-9     individuals worldwide; and

2-10           WHEREAS,  Through the years, the association has done an

2-11     outstanding job of promoting this valuable discipline and its

2-12     decision to inaugurate the State of Texas Cheerleading Championship

2-13     is truly deserving of special recognition; now, therefore, be it

2-14           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

2-15     hereby designate the National Cheerleaders Association's State of

2-16     Texas Cheerleading Championship as the Official State Cheerleading

2-17     and Dance Championship of Texas and commend the group for the

2-18     outstanding service it continues to provide to young people of the

2-19     Lone Star State; and, be it further

2-20           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-21     prepared for the National Cheerleaders Association as an expression

2-22     of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives and Senate.