H.R. No. 82 



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The history of the Lone Star State has been richly 
influenced by family farming and ranching, and the Mahoney and 
McDonald families of Atascosa County have now been officially 
acknowledged as heirs to this proud tradition with the acceptance 
of the Mahoney-McDonald Ranch into the Texas Family Land Heritage 
Program; and
	WHEREAS, The Family Land Heritage Program recognizes farms 
and ranches that have been in continuous agricultural operation by 
the same family for a century or more, and in reaching this 
remarkable milestone, the Mahoney-McDonald Ranch has secured its 
stature in Texas ranching history; and
	WHEREAS, Purchased by Theodore Washington "T. W." Oden and 
his stepfather, J. W. Murphy, in 1882, the original 12,000-acre 
property was used to raise cattle on the open rangelands; and
	WHEREAS, Over the ensuing years, the ranch was passed down 
through generations of Mr. Oden's descendents, from his daughter, 
Ella Mahoney, to his grandchildren, including John Theodore 
Mahoney, who owns the land today; Mr. Mahoney, his wife, Jo Ann, 
their daughter, Marci, and her sons, Jasper McDonald and Michael 
Parker McDonald, continue the family tradition by raising cattle; 
and
	WHEREAS, The rewarding but challenging work of running a 
sustainable agricultural operation is not only a valuable service 
to the community but also a vital link to the rich and colorful 
history that has made the Lone Star State what it is today, and the 
Mahoney and McDonald families continue to contribute immeasurably 
to this fine tradition; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 
Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby congratulate the Mahoney 
and McDonald families on the acceptance of the Mahoney-McDonald 
Ranch into the Texas Family Land Heritage Program and extend them 
sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for the families as an expression of high regard by the 
Texas House of Representatives.

                                                             Gonzalez Toureilles

                                                  ______________________________
                                                       Speaker of the House     

	I certify that H.R. No. 82 was adopted by the House on April 
27, 2006, by a non-record vote.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House