By Smithee                                             H.R. No. 502
         76R9427 JHS-F                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, On March 23, 1999, Cal Farley's Boys Ranch and
 1-2     Affiliates will celebrate Champions for Children Day at the State
 1-3     Capitol in recognition of the 60th anniversary of Cal Farley's Boys
 1-4     Ranch and the 50th anniversary of Girlstown, U.S.A.; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, More than 5,000 boys and girls from every state in
 1-6     the nation, representing a wide variety of races and ethnic
 1-7     backgrounds, found hope and opportunity as a result of the vision
 1-8     of Cal Farley, founder of Cal Farley's Boys Ranch, and Amelia
 1-9     Anthony, founder of Girlstown, U.S.A.; and
1-10           WHEREAS, The original charter for Boys Ranch was filed by the
1-11     Texas secretary of state on March 14, 1939, and soon thereafter Cal
1-12     Farley fulfilled his dream of providing boys a second chance for
1-13     success when he took the first nine boys to live in the courthouse
1-14     at Tascosa; and
1-15           WHEREAS, Amelia Anthony established a home for girls on March
1-16     13, 1949, beginning with nine girls at a temporary location in
1-17     Buffalo Gap, and the home was moved to its current location in July
1-18     1949; Girlstown, U.S.A., became an affiliate of Cal Farley's Boys
1-19     Ranch in 1987; and
1-20           WHEREAS, Cal Farley's Boys Ranch and Affiliates is a
1-21     Christ-centered, professional child-care organization that provides
1-22     programs and services designed to strengthen families and support
1-23     the total development of the children entrusted to its care; and
1-24           WHEREAS, This exemplary organization currently serves more
 2-1     than 300 boys and girls on three campuses, including Cal Farley's
 2-2     Boys Ranch, located 36 miles northwest of Amarillo, in Oldham
 2-3     County; Girlstown, U.S.A., located eight miles south of Whiteface,
 2-4     in Cochran County; and Cal Farley's Family Program, located four
 2-5     miles east of Borger, in Hutchinson County; and
 2-6           WHEREAS, Cal Farley's Boys Ranch and Affiliates does not
 2-7     charge fees to families or government agencies, but rather depends
 2-8     on the caring gifts of thousands of faithful supporters, the true
 2-9     Champions for Children, whose contributions ensure the
2-10     organization's continued existence; a volunteer board of directors
2-11     and dedicated employees maintain the highest standards of
2-12     excellence in fulfilling the organization's mission; and
2-13           WHEREAS, Spiritual programs are important to the children and
2-14     staff, and opportunities are provided for the development of
2-15     Christian values, principles, and ideals, and these ideals are
2-16     reinforced through teaching and training, discipleship programs,
2-17     and participation in Christian ministry activities, events, and
2-18     projects; and
2-19           WHEREAS, Cal Farley's Boys Ranch and Affiliates helps many
2-20     students complete their high school education and provides
2-21     financial scholarships to qualified alumni as they pursue
2-22     postsecondary educational opportunities; and
2-23           WHEREAS, Cal Farley's Boys Ranch and Affiliates proudly
2-24     recognizes that alumni are currently living productive lives in all
2-25     regions of the country and throughout the world, representing all
2-26     walks of life as fathers and mothers and grandfathers and
2-27     grandmothers, and serving honorably in such diverse fields as
 3-1     teaching, law enforcement, business, the military, and government
 3-2     service; and
 3-3           WHEREAS, This remarkable organization is indeed deserving of
 3-4     special legislative recognition on this momentous occasion; now,
 3-5     therefore, be it
 3-6           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
 3-7     Legislature hereby honor Cal Farley's Boys Ranch and Affiliates and
 3-8     its many Champions for Children as they commemorate this
 3-9     significant day; and, be it further
3-10           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-11     prepared for Cal Farley's Boys Ranch and Affiliates as an
3-12     expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.