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H.R. No. 2110
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The office of fish and oyster commissioner was
created by the 24th Texas Legislature in 1895 to enforce the fish
and oyster laws of this state; and
WHEREAS, I. P. Kibbe was selected as the first commissioner,
at a salary of $150 per month, and he appointed deputies, including
William Henry Sterling, one of the first conservation law
enforcement officers in Texas, who earned a salary of up to $50 per
month, garnered from the sale of licenses and permits; and
WHEREAS, In 1899, the Fish and Oyster Commission was given
jurisdiction over all public waters, including freshwater streams,
lakes, and ponds, and four years later the commission's duties were
expanded to include commercial shrimping; and
WHEREAS, The agency has undergone several name changes
through the years; designated the Game, Fish, and Oyster
Commissioner in 1907, Game, Fish, and Oyster Commission in 1929,
and Game and Fish Commission in 1951, it was renamed the Texas Parks
and Wildlife Department in 1963; and
WHEREAS, Two years later, the professionals now known as
Texas game wardens were assigned the duty of promoting recreational
water safety for persons and property in all recreational waters of
the state; and
WHEREAS, In 1971, game wardens were formally recognized as
Texas peace officers, with full duties and powers to preserve peace
within the state, when the 62nd Texas Legislature extended that
designation to all law enforcement officers commissioned by the
Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission; and
WHEREAS, The modern-day equivalent of those early deputy fish
and oyster commissioners, Texas game wardens have grown in number
from six in 1919 to nearly 500 today; expanding their role to
include water-safety enforcement 40 years ago, these dedicated men
and women and their predecessors have played a vital role in
wildlife conservation for more than a century; now, therefore, be
it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas
Legislature hereby honor Texas game wardens for 110 years of
service to the Lone Star State and commend them for their efforts to
safeguard the natural resources of this state for the use and
enjoyment of present and future generations; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Texas game wardens as an expression of high regard by
the Texas House of Representatives.
Hilderbran
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 2110 was adopted by the House on May
26, 2005, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House