By Hardcastle                                        H.C.R. No. 181
         77R6842 WMS-D                           
                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-1           WHEREAS, The Santa Rosa Palomino Club celebrated its 50th
 1-2     anniversary as an organization in 1999 and continues today as one
 1-3     of the premier western riding clubs in Texas and the Southwest; and
 1-4           WHEREAS, The Santa Rosa Palomino Club, based in Vernon, in
 1-5     Wilbarger County, Texas, has been a featured attraction at rodeos,
 1-6     equestrian events, and charity events throughout the Southwest; the
 1-7     club has won the National Drill Team Championships twice, and has
 1-8     brought back nearly 400 first-place trophies from parade
 1-9     appearances not only in Texas and Oklahoma, but also in Arizona,
1-10     Colorado, New Mexico, Tennessee, Indiana, Wyoming, and Alabama, as
1-11     well as been featured in national magazines and books, Wild West
1-12     shows, and television appearances, including the "Today" show; and
1-13           WHEREAS, Some 200 men have been members of the club since its
1-14     inception, including second and third generation family members and
1-15     a number of Wilbarger County's leading citizens; and
1-16           WHEREAS, Members of the Santa Rosa Palomino Club have
1-17     distinguished themselves as Vernon's "Ambassadors on Horseback"
1-18     with their beautifully matched Palomino horses, colorful flags and
1-19     attire, and precision riding maneuvers; and
1-20           WHEREAS, In the last two decades, the club has earned a
1-21     reputation for its charity work by performing at special schools
1-22     and hospitals across Texas, spending countless hours giving
1-23     horseback rides to disabled children, performing at many Cattle
1-24     Barons' Balls for the American Cancer Society, "Bustin' Diabetes"
 2-1     rodeos, and MS walks; the only nonranch performer in each of the
 2-2     Original Texas Ranch Roundups for rehabilitation centers, the club
 2-3     has also provided a horse and activities for the Make-A-Wish
 2-4     Foundation; and
 2-5           WHEREAS, For many years the club sponsored and produced the
 2-6     Santa Rosa Roundup, continuing a tradition begun by the late E.
 2-7     Paul Waggoner in bringing the best in professional rodeo to North
 2-8     Texas, and the club continues to support the rodeo with countless
 2-9     hours of work by members and as a featured specialty act; and
2-10           WHEREAS, On the occasion of its 40th anniversary, the club
2-11     was honored as the official "Ambassadors on Horseback" for the
2-12     State of Texas by the 71st Texas Legislature; the organization has
2-13     since ridden in two governor's inaugural parades, presented a Texas
2-14     flag flown over the State Capitol to the people of Cody, Wyoming,
2-15     who in turn flew it over their rodeo arena for the duration of the
2-16     club's performance there, and participated in numerous other events
2-17     representing Texas; now, therefore, be it
2-18           RESOLVED, That the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas
2-19     hereby designate the Santa Rosa Palomino Club as the official
2-20     "Ambassadors on Horseback" of the State of Texas; and, be it
2-21     further
2-22           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-23     prepared for the Santa Rosa Palomino Club as an expression of high
2-24     regard by the Texas House of Representatives and Senate.