By Keffer                                             H.C.R. No. 31
         77R2151 WMS-D                           
                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-1           WHEREAS, For its unique characteristics and noteworthy status
 1-2     as a threatened species, the Texas horned lizard was officially
 1-3     designated the State Reptile with the passage of House Concurrent
 1-4     Resolution 141 by the 73rd Texas Legislature; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, The Texas horned lizard, Phrynosoma cornutum, is
 1-6     variously known as a horned toad, horny toad, and horned frog, and
 1-7     while these creatures stand out as a species for their
 1-8     distinctive-looking features, one horned toad in particular has
 1-9     captured the hearts of many Texans, that being Eastland's Old Rip;
1-10     and
1-11           WHEREAS, Old Rip was placed inside a cornerstone during the
1-12     1897 dedication of the Eastland County courthouse, and there he
1-13     slept peacefully until February 18, 1928, when the courthouse was
1-14     demolished to make way for new construction; and
1-15           WHEREAS, On hand to witness Old Rip's serendipitous return to
1-16     light after 31 years of darkness were 3,000 Eastland residents, in
1-17     ceremonies presided over by a pastor, a judge, and an oilman; the
1-18     crowd cheered as Old Rip was held aloft, his earnest wiggling
1-19     viable proof of the little lizard's stamina and determination; and
1-20           WHEREAS, Old Rip's story made him a celebrity; he was
1-21     exhibited in various parts of the country and even made a visit to
1-22     be viewed by President Calvin Coolidge in Washington, D.C.; sadly,
1-23     the Eastland hero died of pneumonia on January 19, 1929, though his
1-24     body was embalmed and can still be seen today in a plush lined
 2-1     casket in the lobby of the Eastland County courthouse; and
 2-2           WHEREAS, To honor the enduring spirit of Old Rip and to
 2-3     perpetuate the telling of his story to future generations, Eastland
 2-4     County residents have commissioned a large iron statue of a  horned
 2-5     toad for permanent display in the county seat; and
 2-6           WHEREAS, Distinguished as a fitting symbol of Texas, the
 2-7     horned toad has  rightfully earned a place in Lone Star lore, and
 2-8     the many fine citizens of Eastland  have indeed proven their
 2-9     commitment to increasing the public's awareness of and interest in
2-10     this singular Texas icon; now, therefore, be it
2-11           RESOLVED, That the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas
2-12     hereby designate Eastland as the official home of "Old Rip--The
2-13     Most Famous Horned Toad in Texas"  and warmly welcome to Austin the
2-14     delegation of Eastland citizens visiting on this auspicious
2-15     occasion.