1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 653 1-3 WHEREAS, The Santa Rosa Palomino Club celebrated its 50th 1-4 anniversary as an organization in 1999 and continues today as one 1-5 of the premier western riding clubs in Texas and the Southwest; 1-6 and 1-7 WHEREAS, The Santa Rosa Palomino Club, based in Vernon, 1-8 in Wilbarger County, Texas, has been a featured attraction at 1-9 rodeos, equestrian events, and charity events throughout the 1-10 Southwest; the club has won the National Drill Team Championships 1-11 twice and has brought back nearly 400 first-place trophies from 1-12 parade appearances not only in Texas and Oklahoma, but also in 1-13 Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Tennessee, Indiana, Wyoming, and 1-14 Alabama, as well as been featured in national magazines and books, 1-15 Wild West shows, and television appearances, including the "Today" 1-16 show; and 1-17 WHEREAS, Some 200 men have been members of the club 1-18 since its inception, including second and third generation 1-19 family members and a number of Wilbarger County's leading 1-20 citizens; and 1-21 WHEREAS, Members of the Santa Rosa Palomino Club have 1-22 distinguished themselves as Vernon's "Ambassadors on Horseback" 2-1 with their beautifully matched Palomino horses, colorful flags 2-2 and attire, and precision riding maneuvers; and 2-3 WHEREAS, In the last two decades, the club has earned a 2-4 reputation for its charity work by performing at special schools 2-5 and hospitals across Texas, spending countless hours giving 2-6 horseback rides to disabled children, performing at many Cattle 2-7 Barons' Balls for the American Cancer Society, "Bustin' Diabetes" 2-8 rodeos, and MS walks; the only nonranch performer in each of the 2-9 Original Texas Ranch Roundups for rehabilitation centers, the 2-10 club has also provided a horse and activities for the Make-A-Wish 2-11 Foundation; and 2-12 WHEREAS, For many years the club sponsored and produced 2-13 the Santa Rosa Roundup, continuing a tradition begun by the late 2-14 E. Paul Waggoner in bringing the best in professional rodeo to 2-15 North Texas, and the club continues to support the rodeo with 2-16 countless hours of work by members and as a featured specialty 2-17 act; and 2-18 WHEREAS, On the occasion of its 40th anniversary, the 2-19 club was honored as the official "Ambassadors on Horseback" for 2-20 the State of Texas by the 71st Texas Legislature; the organization 2-21 has since ridden in two governor's inaugural parades, presented a 2-22 Texas flag flown over the State Capitol to the people of Cody, 2-23 Wyoming, who in turn flew it over their rodeo arena for the 2-24 duration of the club's performance there, and participated in 3-1 numerous other events representing Texas; now, therefore, be it 3-2 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 3-3 77th Legislature, hereby recognize the Santa Rosa Palomino 3-4 Club as "Ambassadors on Horseback" of the State of Texas; 3-5 and, be it further 3-6 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 3-7 the Santa Rosa Palomino Club as an expression of high regard 3-8 from the Texas Senate. 3-9 Haywood 3-10 ______________________________________ 3-11 President of the Senate 3-12 I hereby certify that the above 3-13 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 3-14 on April 4, 2001. 3-15 ______________________________________ 3-16 Secretary of the Senate 3-17 ______________________________________ 3-18 Member, Texas Senate