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