By Jackson                                             H.R. No. 589

         75R11006 JTR-D                           

                                 R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, The year 1997 marks the centennial anniversary of

 1-2     the Houston Yacht Club (HYC), and this auspicious occasion is truly

 1-3     worthy of special praise and recognition; and

 1-4           WHEREAS, First founded in Shoreacres, the club underwent a

 1-5     number of changes in name and location before establishing itself

 1-6     at its current location, the beloved "Pink Palace" overlooking

 1-7     upper Galveston Bay; and

 1-8           WHEREAS, Throughout its history the club has produced a

 1-9     number of outstanding sailors; in 1936, HYC member Fairfax Moody

1-10     became the first woman skipper to compete for the prestigious Sir

1-11     Thomas Lipton Trophy, and that same year HYC sailors Dan Ryan and

1-12     Paul Richmond, piloting a borrowed boat, defeated the Southern

1-13     Yacht Club's 1932 Olympic gold medalists in regional Olympic

1-14     trials, advancing to the national finals; and

1-15           WHEREAS, In more recent years, HYC member John Kolius was

1-16     awarded the silver medal for his performance in the 1976 Olympics;

1-17     in 1992 he coached the Italian crew in the renowned America's Cup

1-18     event but was stymied by the defending yacht, America, navigated by

1-19     his fellow HYC sailor By Baldridge; and

1-20           WHEREAS, The club itself has been a formidable presence in

1-21     American yachting, bringing a national regatta to Texas for the

1-22     first time in 1927, as well as hosting the Lipton Cup Regatta in

1-23     1929 and 1941; the only club in the country to twice win the

1-24     prestigious St.  Petersburg Trophy for excellence in race

 2-1     management, HYC was also named the United States Yacht Racing

 2-2     Union's 1991 "Club of the Year"; and

 2-3           WHEREAS, Vital and valued members of the community, HYC

 2-4     sailors have traditionally given freely of their time, energy, and

 2-5     resources to numerous worthwhile endeavors; in addition to the club

 2-6     charter's stated goal of "maintaining a cleaner and healthier

 2-7     bayou," club members' boats have seen military service in both

 2-8     world wars, and the club's facilities have been used to house both

 2-9     refugees from the 1947 Texas City disaster and military personnel

2-10     preparing to serve in Operation Desert Storm; and

2-11           WHEREAS, For 100 years, the Houston Yacht Club has symbolized

2-12     excellence in sailing as well as dedication to the good of the

2-13     community, and even as its members take pride and satisfaction in

2-14     this venerable institution's history they look forward to the

2-15     challenges and opportunities of a new century; now, therefore, be

2-16     it

2-17           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

2-18     Legislature hereby honor the members of the Houston Yacht Club on

2-19     the occasion of the club's 100th anniversary and extend to them

2-20     sincere best wishes for continued success and happiness in the

2-21     years to come; and, be it further

2-22           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-23     prepared for display at the Houston Yacht Club as an expression of

2-24     high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.