1-1     By:  Hardcastle (Senate Sponsor - Haywood)           H.C.R. No. 181
 1-2           (In the Senate - Received from the House April 23, 2001;
 1-3     April 24, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on
 1-4     Administration; May 4, 2001, reported favorably by the following
 1-5     vote:  Yeas 4, Nays 0; May 4, 2001, sent to printer.)
 1-6                         HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-7           WHEREAS, The Santa Rosa Palomino Club celebrated its 50th
 1-8     anniversary as an organization in 1999 and continues today as one
 1-9     of the premier western riding clubs in Texas and the Southwest; and
1-10           WHEREAS, The Santa Rosa Palomino Club, based in Vernon, in
1-11     Wilbarger County, Texas, has been a featured attraction at rodeos,
1-12     equestrian events, and charity events throughout the Southwest; the
1-13     club has won the National Drill Team Championships twice, and has
1-14     brought back nearly 400 first-place trophies from parade
1-15     appearances not only in Texas and Oklahoma, but also in Arizona,
1-16     Colorado, New Mexico, Tennessee, Indiana, Wyoming, and Alabama, as
1-17     well as been featured in national magazines and books, Wild West
1-18     shows, and television appearances, including the "Today" show; and
1-19           WHEREAS, Some 200 men have been members of the club since its
1-20     inception, including second and third generation family members and
1-21     a number of Wilbarger County's leading citizens; and
1-22           WHEREAS, Members of the Santa Rosa Palomino Club have
1-23     distinguished themselves as Vernon's "Ambassadors on Horseback"
1-24     with their beautifully matched Palomino horses, colorful flags and
1-25     attire, and precision riding maneuvers; and
1-26           WHEREAS, In the last two decades, the club has earned a
1-27     reputation for its charity work by performing at special schools
1-28     and hospitals across Texas, spending countless hours giving
1-29     horseback rides to disabled children, performing at many Cattle
1-30     Barons' Balls for the American Cancer Society, "Bustin' Diabetes"
1-31     rodeos, and MS walks; the only nonranch performer in each of the
1-32     Original Texas Ranch Roundups for rehabilitation centers, the club
1-33     has also provided a horse and activities for the Make-A-Wish
1-34     Foundation; and
1-35           WHEREAS, For many years the club sponsored and produced the
1-36     Santa Rosa Roundup, continuing a tradition begun by the late E.
1-37     Paul Waggoner in bringing the best in professional rodeo to North
1-38     Texas, and the club continues to support the rodeo with countless
1-39     hours of work by members and as a featured specialty act; and
1-40           WHEREAS, On the occasion of its 40th anniversary, the club
1-41     was honored as the official "Ambassadors on Horseback" for the
1-42     State of Texas by the 71st Texas Legislature; the organization has
1-43     since ridden in two governor's inaugural parades, presented a Texas
1-44     flag flown over the State Capitol to the people of Cody, Wyoming,
1-45     who in turn flew it over their rodeo arena for the duration of the
1-46     club's performance there, and participated in numerous other events
1-47     representing Texas; now, therefore, be it
1-48           RESOLVED, That the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas
1-49     hereby designate the Santa Rosa Palomino Club as the official
1-50     "Ambassadors on Horseback" of the State of Texas; and, be it
1-51     further
1-52           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
1-53     prepared for the Santa Rosa Palomino Club as an expression of high
1-54     regard by the Texas House of Representatives and Senate.
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