R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives takes great pride 1-2 in paying tribute to the memory of Captain Jesse Billingsley, a 1-3 true hero in the long and noble struggle for Texas independence; 1-4 and 1-5 WHEREAS, Captain Billingsley was born in Tennessee on 1-6 October 10, 1810, and moved to Bastrop County in 1835; he settled 1-7 in Cedar Creek, and his ability and commitment to the cause of 1-8 Texas sovereignty encouraged his election as leader of the Mina 1-9 Volunteers, who were mustered into the Texas army under the command 1-10 of Colonel Edward Burleson's First Regiment; and 1-11 WHEREAS, At the fall of the Alamo and after the death of his 1-12 friend and mentor, Davy Crockett, Captain Billingsley was the first 1-13 Texan to proclaim the legendary battle cry, "Remember the Alamo!" 1-14 and he bravely led the Mina regiment into war; and 1-15 WHEREAS, He and his valiant men twice engaged the army of 1-16 Santa Anna: first, on April 20, 1836, when they came to the aid of 1-17 Colonel Sidney Sherman, whose forces were badly outnumbered by the 1-18 Mexican general's troops; and second, on the afternoon of April 21, 1-19 1836, at the Battle of San Jacinto; and 1-20 WHEREAS, Billingsley and his recruits were at the fore of the 1-21 battle and suffered greatly from enemy cannon fire; the captain 1-22 himself was gravely wounded in the fray, and his scarred and 1-23 crippled left hand would for the rest of his life serve as 1-24 testament to his place in Texas history; and 2-1 WHEREAS, The Battle of San Jacinto stands as the 2-2 determinative event in the Texas war for independence, for what 2-3 began at the Alamo was concluded at San Jacinto, and the role of 2-4 Captain Jesse Billingsley is both an illustrative and illustrious 2-5 example of the bravery and honor of those patriots who fought and 2-6 fell in that historic battle; and 2-7 WHEREAS, It is a privilege and a pleasure to welcome to the 2-8 house chamber today the great-great-grandson of this eminent Texan, 2-9 Randy Billingsley of Cleveland, Texas, for his presence serves as a 2-10 powerful reminder of the importance of this solemn day and the 2-11 great debt all citizens of the Lone Star State owe brave soldiers 2-12 such as Captain Jesse Billingsley, a true Texas patriot; now, 2-13 therefore, be it 2-14 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas 2-15 Legislature hereby honor the memory of Captain Jesse Billingsley 2-16 and extend a warm welcome to Randy Billingsley on the occasion of 2-17 his visit to the State Capitol; and, be it further 2-18 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-19 prepared for the Billingsley family and that when the Texas House 2-20 of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Captain 2-21 Jesse Billingsley and all the heroes of San Jacinto. Zbranek _______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 669 was adopted by the House on April 20, 1999, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House