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