By Miller                                              H.R. No. 436
         77R8455 JKB-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The central Texas city of Gatesville is the home of
 1-2     reportedly the largest spur collection in the world, the Lloyd and
 1-3     Madge Mitchell Collection at the Coryell Museum and Historical
 1-4     Center; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, Lloyd Mitchell was a coach and a history, civics,
 1-6     and government teacher in Gatesville; he developed his interest in
 1-7     spurs as a boy; as he told the story, he found a single spur on his
 1-8     way to Yellowstone National Park and had been looking for its match
 1-9     ever since; and
1-10           WHEREAS, Over more than seven decades, friends, family,
1-11     students, and colleagues all contributed to this growing treasure
1-12     trove, which came to include western art and memorabilia and other
1-13     artifacts; and
1-14           WHEREAS, The collection, which was donated to the Coryell
1-15     Museum in 1995, contains spurs made from heavy iron, bronze, and
1-16     wood, and dating back to the 13th century; it features men's and
1-17     ladies' boots as well as spurs, ladies' petticoat spurs, military,
1-18     rodeo, and novelty spurs, and spurs from across Europe, Russia,
1-19     Morocco, the Philippines, Mexico, and South America; the spurs worn
1-20     by Pancho Villa and Jacqueline Kennedy are among its notable
1-21     highlights; and
1-22           WHEREAS, Residents of the city of Gatesville have
1-23     demonstrated a commitment to preserving and bringing public
1-24     attention to the Mitchell exhibits, and it is most appropriate to
 2-1     take this opportunity to commend their efforts; now, therefore, be
 2-2     it
 2-3           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
 2-4     Legislature hereby recognize Gatesville as the home of the world's
 2-5     largest spur collection and commend all those associated with the
 2-6     Mitchell Collection and the Coryell Museum and Historical Center
 2-7     for their significant efforts to preserve this unique slice of
 2-8     history for future generations.