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. 1-38 * * * * *