By Isett                                             H.C.R. No. 196
         77R7883 WMS-D                           
                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-1           WHEREAS, A Vatican collection of rare and fragile art that
 1-2     has never been made available for public viewing will be displayed
 1-3     in Lubbock at the Museum of Texas Tech during the year 2002; and
 1-4           WHEREAS, The exhibition will contain 31 medieval frescoes
 1-5     from the 13th and 14th centuries, discovered in 1528 and kept in
 1-6     storage until 1995; an additional display from Vatican extension
 1-7     museums in Mexico City will feature such rarities as a letter from
 1-8     Christopher Columbus to the queen of Spain and correspondence from
 1-9     other explorers of the New World, including Coronado and De Vaca;
1-10     and
1-11           WHEREAS, After the Lubbock showing in the summer of 2002, the
1-12     frescoes, which include the first Christian instructional, a
1-13     depiction of the accepted way to teach Christianity, will be
1-14     returned to the Vatican and will not be displayed again until 2025;
1-15     and
1-16           WHEREAS, Cardinals from Rome, national presidents, art
1-17     historians, educators, and critics are anticipated to join 400,000
1-18     others in viewing this singular cultural and artistic event; and
1-19           WHEREAS, Among the many dedicated Texans who have devoted
1-20     their time and energy to realizing this massive project are the
1-21     Rev. Malcolm Neyland, judicial vicar of the Tribunal Diocese of
1-22     Lubbock and director of the exhibit, Gary Edson, Texas Tech museum
1-23     director, U.S. Congressman Larry Combest, Dave Walker, exhibit
1-24     media liaison, John Montford, chancellor of Texas Tech University,
 2-1     Don Harrigan, former president of Texas Tech, Giles McCrary, Doug
 2-2     Sanford, Mark Scioli, and Fred Underwood; and
 2-3           WHEREAS, The individuals who have worked to bring this
 2-4     magnificent and historical exhibition to the city of Lubbock have
 2-5     created a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for their fellow citizens,
 2-6     and their efforts are indeed worthy of special recognition at this
 2-7     time; now, therefore, be it
 2-8           RESOLVED, That the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas
 2-9     hereby designate Lubbock as the Texas City of Vatican Art for Year
2-10     2002.