By Rangel                                              H.C.R. No. 3
         76R7164 PCM-D                           
                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-1           WHEREAS, The Texas Legislature takes great pride in honoring
 1-2     a distinguished native son of the Lone Star State, Stephen J. "Tio"
 1-3     Kleberg, the last of the great South Texas ranchers; and
 1-4           WHEREAS, Born March 17, 1946, in Austin, Mr. Kleberg's
 1-5     birthright is closely linked to the history of the state as he is a
 1-6     proud descendant of Richard King, the man who in 1853 purchased the
 1-7     property that would one day be known the world over as the King
 1-8     Ranch and would encompass 825,000 acres of South Texas ranchland as
 1-9     well as international holdings; and
1-10           WHEREAS, Possessing the intelligence, drive, and vision of
1-11     his forebears, Mr. Kleberg followed in their footsteps and learned
1-12     the operation firsthand, working under the tutelage of his father,
1-13     R. M. Kleberg, Jr., and his heroes, the Kinenos, or King Ranch
1-14     cowboys, whose families have lived on the ranch for generations;
1-15     and
1-16           WHEREAS, A 1964 graduate of the Texas Military Institute,
1-17     Mr. Kleberg pursued his higher education as a student at Texas Tech
1-18     University, where he also pursued the lovely Janell, who would
1-19     later accept his hand in marriage and prove the sweetest deal he
1-20     ever made; and
1-21           WHEREAS, Despite the influence of college buddies Pete and
1-22     Rob, Mr. Kleberg earned his bachelor of science degree in 1969 and
1-23     went on to serve his country as a member of the U.S. Army, which
1-24     awarded him the Distinguished Service Medal and an honorable
 2-1     discharge for his actions; and
 2-2           WHEREAS, Returning home, he went on to steer the ranch's
 2-3     cattle and horse operation, and, in 1988, he became vice president
 2-4     of King Ranch Agri-business, managing its agricultural enterprises
 2-5     in the United States and Brazil over the course of the next decade;
 2-6     and
 2-7           WHEREAS, Along the way, he managed to amass an amazing string
 2-8     of accomplishments that served to further enhance and diversify the
 2-9     ranch's holdings; not only did he begin the organization's
2-10     60,000-acre farming operation, but he also expanded its famed
2-11     quarterhorse operation to include cutting horses, played a role in
2-12     the creation of the Santa Cruz breed of cattle, opened the ranch to
2-13     hunters, developed a wildlife conservation program, and started a
2-14     visitor management program for the ranch, all with one arm tied
2-15     behind his back; and
2-16           WHEREAS, Equally comfortable on two legs or four, Mr. Kleberg
2-17     is revered by the Kinenos, for his passion for the ranch and the
2-18     sense of responsibility and affection he has for those who make
2-19     Kinena their home is unparalleled; on call 24 hours a day, his gate
2-20     is always open to those in need, and his honesty, integrity, and
2-21     compassion have moved many a cowboy's heart; and
2-22           WHEREAS,  Far from restricting his activities to those
2-23     related to the ranch, this commendable cowboy has sat on almost as
2-24     many boards as he has horses, and the Boy Scouts of America, Texas
2-25     A&M University's Kingsville Foundation, and the South Texas
2-26     Heritage Rodeo are but a few of the many organizations, as well as
2-27     the Kingsville community, that have benefited from the leadership
 3-1     and interest of Mr. Kleberg through the years; and
 3-2           WHEREAS, Reelected to the King Ranch Board of Directors in
 3-3     1998, Mr. Kleberg has recently begun to turn his attention to other
 3-4     interests long held at bay, and, while this represents an unwelcome
 3-5     change for those who have worked so closely with him through the
 3-6     years, they may take comfort in the fact that as long as there are
 3-7     horizons to explore, fences to mend, and envelopes to push, Tio
 3-8     Kleberg will remain in his element, giving generously of his time,
 3-9     energy, and resources to the state he is proud to call home; now,
3-10     therefore, be it
3-11           RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas
3-12     hereby commend Stephen J.  "Tio" Kleberg on his remarkable legacy
3-13     of achievement and honor him for the innumerable contributions he
3-14     has made to the Lone Star State; and, be it further
3-15           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-16     prepared for Mr. Kleberg as an expression of highest regard by the
3-17     Texas House of Representatives and Senate.