By Tillery                                             H.R. No. 995

         75R15463 SAJ-D                           

                                 R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Mesquite

 1-2     Championship Rodeo; and

 1-3           WHEREAS, Neal Gay decided to form the rodeo in 1957 so he

 1-4     could compete professionally without having to spend time away from

 1-5     his growing family; his plans reached fruition  the following year

 1-6     when he and his original partners, Jim Shoulders, Ira Akers, Bob

 1-7     Grant, D. J. (Kajun Kid) Gaudin, and Harry Tompkins, opened the

 1-8     chutes to the Mesquite Championship Rodeo; and

 1-9           WHEREAS, Mr. Gay was named managing director of the venture

1-10     in its first year; since that time, he has worked with his wife,

1-11     Kay, and their family to make the business a success, and as the

1-12     rodeo marks its 40th season, the Gays can indeed reflect back on a

1-13     job well done; and

1-14           WHEREAS, This year's rodeo began on April 4 and will be held

1-15     on Friday and Saturday evenings through October 4; the event offers

1-16     spectators excitement, laughter, and danger as contestants compete

1-17     in such popular attractions as bull riding, calf roping, steer

1-18     wrestling, and the Kid's Calf Scramble, which allows youngsters to

1-19     participate in the fun directly by chasing calves; and

1-20           WHEREAS, During the 1996 season, the rodeo hosted

1-21     approximately 250,000 spectators who came from such distant locales

1-22     as France, the Ivory Coast, and Russia to partake in what has

1-23     become one of the state's premiere tourist attractions; and

1-24           WHEREAS, Countless  others have enjoyed viewing the sport on

 2-1     television broadcasts on the Nashville Network and in segments on

 2-2     "Good Morning America," "NBC News," and "Wheel of  Fortune"; many

 2-3     magazines have featured the rodeo as well, including National

 2-4     Geographic, Sports Illustrated, People, and Reader's Digest, to the

 2-5     delight of the rodeo's many fans; and

 2-6           WHEREAS, The event's popularity has firmly established

 2-7     Mesquite as a rodeo center, and the Texas Legislature confirmed

 2-8     widespread opinion when it designated the community the Rodeo

 2-9     Capital of Texas in 1993; and

2-10           WHEREAS, Throughout the years, the Mesquite Championship

2-11     Rodeo has helped to preserve a part of Texas' unique mystique, and

2-12     it gives the members of this chamber great pleasure to recognize

2-13     all those associated with the organization for their remarkable

2-14     commitment; now, therefore, be it

2-15           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

2-16     Legislature hereby honor the  Mesquite Championship Rodeo on the

2-17     occasion of its 40th anniversary and extend to its current

2-18     partners, President Jack Beckman, Don Carter, Neal Gay, and Don

2-19     Gay, warmest best wishes for continued success and happiness; and,

2-20     be it further

2-21           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-22     prepared for the rodeo partners as an expression of high regard by

2-23     the Texas House of Representatives.