1-1     By:  Miller (Senate Sponsor - Fraser)                H.C.R. No. 197
 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 3, Nays 0; May 4, 2001, sent to printer.)
 1-6                         HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-7           WHEREAS, The central Texas city of Gatesville is the home of
 1-8     reportedly the largest spur collection in the world, the Lloyd and
 1-9     Madge Mitchell Collection at the Coryell Museum and Historical
1-10     Center; and
1-11           WHEREAS, Lloyd Mitchell was a coach and a history, civics,
1-12     and government teacher in Gatesville; he developed his interest in
1-13     spurs as a boy; as he told the story, he found a single spur on his
1-14     way to Yellowstone National Park and had been looking for its match
1-15     ever since; and
1-16           WHEREAS, Over more than seven decades, friends, family,
1-17     students, and colleagues all contributed to this growing treasure
1-18     trove, which came to include western art and memorabilia and other
1-19     artifacts; and
1-20           WHEREAS, The collection, which was donated to the Coryell
1-21     Museum in 1995, contains spurs made from heavy iron, bronze, and
1-22     wood, dating back to the 13th century; it features men's and
1-23     ladies' boots as well as spurs, ladies' petticoat spurs, military,
1-24     rodeo, and novelty spurs, and spurs from across Europe, Russia,
1-25     Morocco, the Philippines, Mexico, and South America; the spurs worn
1-26     by Pancho Villa and Jacqueline Kennedy are among its notable
1-27     highlights; and
1-28           WHEREAS, Residents of the city of Gatesville have
1-29     demonstrated a commitment to preserving and bringing public
1-30     attention to the Mitchell exhibits, and it is most fitting to
1-31     accord the city official recognition at this time; now, therefore,
1-32     be it
1-33           RESOLVED, That the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas
1-34     hereby designate Gatesville as the Spur Capital of Texas and
1-35     commend all those associated with the Mitchell Collection and the
1-36     Coryell Museum and Historical Center for their significant efforts
1-37     to preserve this unique slice of history for future generations.
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