By Junell                                              H.R. No. 190
         76R4903 GMW-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The recent passing of Boerne resident Cecil Smith on
 1-2     January 21, 1999, at the age of 94, has brought a great loss to the
 1-3     family and many friends of this remarkable man; and
 1-4           WHEREAS, A native Texan, Mr. Smith was born February 14,
 1-5     1904, in Llano County and was raised in the community of Oxford;
 1-6     his father was foreman on the C. T.  Moss Ranch, where as a
 1-7     teenager he developed a love of horses; and
 1-8           WHEREAS, Mr. Smith began playing polo in 1924 and his
 1-9     exploits in the sport helped alter the perception that it was a
1-10     game solely for the privileged, earning him the nickname the "Babe
1-11     Ruth of Polo"; in 1933 he garnered national acclaim when the
1-12     renowned American humorist Will Rogers covered the East-West Series
1-13     in Chicago, an event that saw Mr. Smith's team ride to victory on
1-14     Texas-bred horses; and
1-15           WHEREAS, This beloved cowboy, who played his last polo match
1-16     in 1987 at the age of 83, was deservedly inducted into both the
1-17     Texas Sports Hall of Fame and the International Polo Hall of Fame;
1-18     during his storied career Mr. Smith won every major United States
1-19     high-goal tournament and his Texas Rangers team is the only
1-20     foursome to win every major tournament in England; and
1-21           WHEREAS, Mr. Smith never forgot his roots and remained a
1-22     loyal resident of the Lone Star State, where he and his wife of 64
1-23     years, Mary Miller Smith, raised their two sons and shared a
1-24     devoted, loving union; and
 2-1           WHEREAS, Although Cecil Smith will be deeply missed, his
 2-2     spirit will live on in the hearts and minds of all those fortunate
 2-3     enough to have known him, and it is indeed fitting to honor his
 2-4     memory at this time; now, therefore, be it
 2-5           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
 2-6     Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Cecil Smith and
 2-7     extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife,
 2-8     Mary Miller Smith, to his son, Sidney Smith, to his son and
 2-9     daughter-in-law, Charles and Marcia Smith, to his two
2-10     grandchildren, and to his many other relatives and friends; and, be
2-11     it further
2-12           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-13     prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas
2-14     House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
2-15     Cecil Smith.