R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, On September 29, 2001, the residents of Tioga, 1-2 Texas, are honoring the memory of one of the state's most 1-3 distinguished native sons with the first annual celebration of Gene 1-4 Autry Day; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Born Orvon Gene Autry on September 29, 1907, in 1-6 Tioga, where he attended school through high school, he broke into 1-7 the entertainment industry after being discovered by cowboy 1-8 humorist Will Rogers, and then landed his first job at a radio 1-9 station in 1928; Mr. Autry's mother encouraged his musical talents 1-10 from an early age and he purchased his first guitar with money he 1-11 earned by singing and shining shoes in a barber shop; and 1-12 WHEREAS, His storied career spanned more than 60 years and 1-13 encompassed such media as radio, motion pictures, television, 1-14 rodeo, and live theater, and he is the only entertainer to have 1-15 five stars on Hollywood's renowned Walk of Fame; and 1-16 WHEREAS, Throughout the years, Mr. Autry came to personify 1-17 the popular image of the American West and was widely known as 1-18 "America's Favorite Singing Cowboy"; and 1-19 WHEREAS, This esteemed gentleman had more than 600 recorded 1-20 songs, including "That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine," "Be Honest 1-21 With Me," "Here Comes Santa Claus," "Back in the Saddle Again," and 1-22 "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," which remains the second-best 1-23 selling Christmas single of all time; moreover, Mr. Autry's radio 1-24 show titled "Melody Ranch" aired on the CBS Radio Network between 2-1 1940 and 1956; and 2-2 WHEREAS, Displaying his considerable talents and range as an 2-3 actor, Mr. Autry appeared in 93 films, and starred in 91 of those 2-4 features, including South of the Border, Trail to San Antone, 2-5 Mexicali Rose, Back in the Saddle, Sioux City Sue, and Bells of 2-6 Capistrano; in addition, in 1950, he was the first major movie star 2-7 to enter the television medium, starring in "The Gene Autry Show" 2-8 and producing several other programs that achieved great prominence 2-9 and popularity, including "Annie Oakley"; and 2-10 WHEREAS, Enlisting in the Army Air Forces as a technical 2-11 sergeant on July 26, 1942, to serve his country during World War 2-12 II, Mr. Autry earned flight officer status and served honorably as 2-13 a member of the Air Transport Command, earning the American 2-14 Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the World 2-15 War II Victory Medal; at the conclusion of the war, he was assigned 2-16 to a Special Services unit and toured with a USO troupe in the 2-17 South Pacific; and 2-18 WHEREAS, A baseball afficionado, he became the owner of the 2-19 California Angels, known as the Los Angeles Angels when he 2-20 purchased the team in 1961; Mr. Autry was an ardent supporter of 2-21 the national pastime and served admirably as the American League's 2-22 vice president; and 2-23 WHEREAS, His immeasurable contributions earned him induction 2-24 into the Country Music Hall of Fame, National Cowboy Hall of Fame, 2-25 Nashville Songwriters' Hall of Fame, and National Association of 2-26 Broadcasters Hall of Fame, as well as such accolades as the 2-27 American Academy of Achievement Award, Songwriters' Guild Life 3-1 Achievement Award, Hubert Humphrey Humanitarian of the Year award, 3-2 and a lifetime achievement award from ASCAP; and 3-3 WHEREAS, Bringing a dream of his to fruition, Mr. Autry 3-4 founded the Autry Museum of Western Heritage in Los Angeles, 3-5 California, in 1988, and today this fully accredited museum's 3-6 impressive collections of art, artifacts, and archival material 3-7 document both the historical and mythical legacy of the American 3-8 West and continue to draw millions of visitors from around the 3-9 world; and 3-10 WHEREAS, Although Mr. Autry passed away in October 1998, his 3-11 bright spirit lives on in the hearts and minds of all those whose 3-12 lives he touched, and it is most fitting that we pay tribute to 3-13 this legendary Texan at this time; now, therefore, be it 3-14 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 3-15 Legislature hereby commemorate the birthday of Gene Autry and 3-16 extend to the citizenry of Tioga best wishes for a memorable first 3-17 annual observance of Gene Autry Day. Clark _______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 575 was adopted by the House on April 30, 2001, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House