R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, On July 11, 1996, the citizens of Seymour gathered

 1-2     together to kick off the 100th Old Settlers Reunion and Rodeo, and

 1-3     this centennial is truly deserving of special recognition; and

 1-4           WHEREAS, Families from around the nation participated in this

 1-5     annual celebration, which was first held in 1896; the event was

 1-6     established by a retired cowboy named Jeff Scott who decided that a

 1-7     cowboy reunion would be the perfect way to reminisce with family

 1-8     and longtime friends; the first gathering featured baseball games

 1-9     and good Texas cooking, and to top it off, a grand ball was held at

1-10     the town's opera house; and

1-11           WHEREAS, This year's centennial reunion had many highlights,

1-12     including three rodeo performances, an impressive downtown parade,

1-13     and an appearance by up-and-coming country and western singer Wade

1-14     Hayes, who thrilled area residents with many popular songs from his

1-15     debut album, including several that have become top-10 country

1-16     hits; additionally, an arts and crafts show offered locally made

1-17     handiwork to festival goers, all of whom were encouraged to indulge

1-18     in the abundance of food options and to enjoy evenings packed with

1-19     square dancing, fiddle playing, and other musical entertainment;

1-20     and

1-21           WHEREAS, The theme of this year's parade, "Western Heritage,"

1-22     emphasized the importance of family and history to the people of

1-23     Seymour; awards related to this theme were presented to the oldest

1-24     man and oldest woman born in Baylor County, the family with the

 2-1     most members born in the county present, and the person who

 2-2     traveled farthest to attend the event; and

 2-3           WHEREAS, Longtime cowpunchers were allowed to demonstrate

 2-4     their formidable rodeo skills at the Old Timer Tie Down Calf Roping

 2-5     and the Old Timer Breakaway, and the Open Chuck Wagon Cookoff

 2-6     offered the opportunity for cooks of all ages to rustle up

 2-7     delicious homestyle meals as part of a good-natured, though

 2-8     hard-fought, competition; and

 2-9           WHEREAS, After three days of competition and camaraderie, the

2-10     festivities were brought to a close on Sunday morning, when cowboy

2-11     evangelist Willard Moody led visitors and residents in offering

2-12     thanks to God for the many blessings they had received; and

2-13           WHEREAS, Certainly much has changed in the 100 years of this

2-14     great event, but the central idea of encouraging family and friends

2-15     to come together in recognition of fellowship and community has

2-16     remained the same, and the Old Settlers Reunion and Rodeo truly

2-17     exemplifies the spirit of this timeless theme; now, therefore, be

2-18     it

2-19           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

2-20     Legislature hereby congratulate the people of Seymour on the 100th

2-21     anniversary of the Old Settlers Reunion and Rodeo and extend to

2-22     them sincere best wishes for the continued success of this event in

2-23     the years to come; and, be it further

2-24           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-25     prepared for the City of Seymour as an expression of high regard by

2-26     the Texas House of Representatives.

                                                                     Finnell

                                             _______________________________

                                                   Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.R. No. 22 was adopted by the House on March

         20, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House