1-1 By: West (Senate Sponsor - Bivins) H.C.R. No. 42 1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House February 6, 2001; 1-3 February 7, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on 1-4 Administration; February 27, 2001, reported favorably by the 1-5 following vote: Yeas 5, Nays 0; February 27, 2001, sent to 1-6 printer.) 1-7 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-8 WHEREAS, The jackrabbit is one of the enduring symbols of the 1-9 American West, and it often figures in the folklore, stories, and 1-10 images of West Texas; and 1-11 WHEREAS, Taking its name from its burro-like ears, the 1-12 jackrabbit is endowed with protective coloration, which allows it 1-13 to blend in with sand and dry grass, and with exceedingly long 1-14 legs, which enable it to run at speeds up to 45 miles an hour; and 1-15 WHEREAS, The jackrabbit supplied the plains Indians with food 1-16 and fur, and became a source of meat for settlers in times of 1-17 drought and depression; and 1-18 WHEREAS, The jackrabbit's swiftness presented an irresistible 1-19 challenge to cowboys, who would try out their lassoing talents on 1-20 the animals as they sprinted across the prairie; and 1-21 WHEREAS, Capitalizing on the running prowess of this local 1-22 denizen, the American Legion introduced a jackrabbit-roping contest 1-23 at its annual Memorial Day Rodeo in Odessa in 1932; and 1-24 WHEREAS, The first roping contest was reportedly won by 1-25 Sheriff Arden Ross of Loving County, whose winning time was bested 1-26 the following year by cowgirl Grace Hendricks, a deft roper who 1-27 corralled her rabbit in five seconds flat; Ms. Hendricks later 1-28 served as the first woman justice of the peace in Ector County; and 1-29 WHEREAS, The contest was revived for one year in 1977 and won 1-30 by Jack Torian with a time of six seconds; and 1-31 WHEREAS, Today Odessa's jackrabbit-roping heritage is 1-32 commemorated in markers erected by the Texas Historical Commission 1-33 and by the Heritage of Odessa Foundation; a 10-foot statue of a 1-34 jackrabbit stands at the school administration building, where it 1-35 has been photographed by countless tourists; and 1-36 WHEREAS, Odessa's roping competitions not only displayed the 1-37 talent of the men and women who participated, a skill that was 1-38 emblematic of this ranching society, but brought together two icons 1-39 of the West, the jackrabbit and the cowboy, both of whom evoked the 1-40 hardiness and adaptability required of all who made this rugged 1-41 land their home; and 1-42 WHEREAS, At the dawn of a new century, the proud residents of 1-43 Odessa still embody and honor these defining characteristics; now, 1-44 therefore, be it 1-45 RESOLVED, That the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas 1-46 hereby declare Odessa the Jackrabbit-Roping Capital of Texas; and, 1-47 be it further 1-48 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 1-49 prepared for the city of Odessa in recognition of the community's 1-50 special designation. 1-51 * * * * *