By Lengefeld H.R. No. 293 76R6607 GMW-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Erath County, often called the "Cowboy Capitol of 1-2 the World," is home to many of the world's best professional and 1-3 amateur cowboys, and this unique area and its storied cowboy 1-4 heritage are indeed worthy of special recognition; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Erath County can claim as its own seven finalists of 1-6 the 1998 National Finals Rodeo (NFR) and numerous top Professional 1-7 Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) competitors, including seven-time 1-8 all-around cowboy Ty Murray, two-time calf roping world champion 1-9 Cody Ohl, NFR saddle bronc rider Tom Reeves, NFR calf roper Trent 1-10 Walls, NFR team roper Martin Lucero, PRCA saddle bronc rider Jerry 1-11 Pollack, and retired world champion calf roper Jerry Jetton; and 1-12 WHEREAS, Other local cowboys include Professional Bull Riders 1-13 (PBR) founder Tuff Hedeman, a three-time world bull riding 1-14 champion, as well as PBR and PRCA riders Gilbert and Adam Carrillo, 1-15 and PBR rider Troy Dunn; all of these cowboys and a host of others 1-16 too numerous to mention proudly make up the distinguished cowboy 1-17 population of Erath County; and 1-18 WHEREAS, In addition to being home to stock contractor and 1-19 rodeo event producer Terry Walls, the county also has a number of 1-20 talented female competitors, including 10-time world barrel racing 1-21 champion Charmayne James, NFR competitor and former Tarleton State 1-22 University rodeo team member Cheyenne Wimberly, NFR champion team 1-23 roper Angie Yates, and J. J. Hampton, winner of 12 world and five 1-24 all-around titles; and 2-1 WHEREAS, The county seat of Stephenville is synonymous with 2-2 professional cowboys, rodeo, and cowboy lore and proudly boasts the 2-3 historic Cowboy Walk of Fame, which features George and Beulah 2-4 Brown, Ava and Everett Colborn, Hay Floyd, Sherwood Foster, G. K. 2-5 and Nita Lewallen, Jim Sharp, Harry Tompkins, and Hobie and Paula 2-6 Wood; and 2-7 WHEREAS, Stephenville is the location of Tarleton State 2-8 University, whose rodeo team members routinely compete at the 2-9 National College Finals Rodeo and often go on to professional rodeo 2-10 careers; the city also holds the annual Pro-Youth Rodeo Finals, a 2-11 competition that includes hundreds of boys and girls from ages 2-12 3-19; and 2-13 WHEREAS, Another prominent city that is historically 2-14 significant in the evolution of the cowboy is Dublin, as it is the 2-15 legendary home of Everett Colborn's Rodeo Train, one of the first 2-16 and most successful rodeo livestock shipping operations in the 2-17 United States; Dublin held the first sanctioned cutting horse 2-18 contest in 1946 as well and is the current home of Frank Newsome, 2-19 one of the top-ranked professional rodeo clowns and wrangler bull 2-20 fighters; and 2-21 WHEREAS, Erath County has long been a mecca for many talented 2-22 and award-winning professional and amateur cowboys, and the 2-23 enduring legacy of this tradition-rich county merits widespread 2-24 recognition; now, therefore, be it 2-25 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas 2-26 Legislature hereby honor the cowboy heritage of Erath County and 2-27 extend to its many professional and amateur cowboys sincere best 3-1 wishes for continued success and happiness.