By Counts                                        H.R. No. 212

      75R6411 JHS-D                           

                                 R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, The World's Largest Rattlesnake Round-Up will be

 1-2     held in Sweetwater on the weekend of March 7-9, 1997; and

 1-3           WHEREAS, Sponsored by the Sweetwater Jaycees since 1958, this

 1-4     internationally acclaimed event has attracted thousands of people

 1-5     to this modest Texas town; many of the 35,000 annual visitors come

 1-6     to participate in the snake hunt, although most are there for the

 1-7     thrill of seeing live rattlesnakes and the chance to taste this

 1-8     Texas delicacy; and

 1-9           WHEREAS, Conceived by a group of area farmers and ranchers

1-10     plagued by an abundance of rattlers, the event has grown to become

1-11     the world's largest round-up, with more than 100 tons of western

1-12     diamondback rattlesnakes turned in to date; and

1-13           WHEREAS, Among the highlights of this three-day affair are

1-14     the Rattlesnake Run, the rattlesnake review parade, and the Miss

1-15     Snake Charmer beauty contest, in which contestants compete for

1-16     college scholarships donated by the Jaycees; proceeds from the

1-17     round-up go toward the support of local charities and youth

1-18     programs and help fund the Sunshine Inn, a learning center for the

1-19     mentally handicapped; and

1-20           WHEREAS, The round-up also offers visitors the opportunity to

1-21     see experienced snake handlers demonstrate the various milking

1-22     techniques used to extract the snakes' dangerous venom; this toxic

1-23     substance is beneficial to cancer research and can be used as an

1-24     antidote to snakebite; and

 2-1           WHEREAS, The Rattlesnake Round-Up has generated a great deal

 2-2     of publicity for the city of Sweetwater and its fine citizens, and

 2-3     the Sweetwater Jaycees are truly deserving of special legislative

 2-4     recognition for their sponsorship of this popular event; now,

 2-5     therefore, be it

 2-6           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

 2-7     Legislature hereby commend the Sweetwater Jaycees on their

 2-8     sponsorship of the World's Largest Rattlesnake Round-Up and extend

 2-9     to the Jaycees best wishes for success with this year's event; and,

2-10     be it further

2-11           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-12     prepared for the Sweetwater Jaycees as an expression of high regard

2-13     by the Texas House of Representatives.