By: Martinez (Senate Sponsor - Hinojosa) H.C.R. No. 12
         (In the Senate - Received from the House May 14, 2007;
  May 15, 2007, read first time and referred to Committee on
  Government Organization; May 17, 2007, reported favorably by the
  following vote:  Yeas 4, Nays 0; May 17, 2007, sent to printer.)
 
 
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 
         WHEREAS, The State of Texas has customarily recognized a
  variety of official symbols as tangible representations of the
  state's culture and natural history; and
         WHEREAS, The heritage of the Lone Star State is closely
  associated with images of cowboys and the western frontier, and
  these elements inform several of the current Texas symbols,
  including rodeo, the official state sport, and the longhorn, the
  state large mammal; and
         WHEREAS, A singular fashion associated with the American West
  is the bolo tie, also known as the bola tie, which is distinguished
  by its decorative clasp that fastens a length of cord or string; a
  staple of the western-wear fashions sported by a large number of
  Texans, the bolo tie conjures up the romance of the pioneer era and
  speaks to the determination and independence that figure so
  prominently in Lone Star lore; and
         WHEREAS, Patented in 1959 by an Arizona silversmith named
  Victor Cedarstaff, who was said to have gotten the inspiration for
  the design while on horseback, the bolo tie has been traced to older
  elements of ranching culture and the people of the western United
  States; the name derives from the bola or boleadora--a lariat with
  weights at the end that was used by South American cowboys to
  ensnare cattle; stylistically, it is similar to the string or
  plantation ties popular in the era when Texas was being settled, and
  it also resembles a type of tie worn by Native Americans in the
  early 1900s, which consisted of a bandanna or string fastened by a
  silver concho ornament; and
         WHEREAS, The bolo tie remains popular among many American
  Indians, and intricate designs fashioned by Native American
  craftspeople using silver, turquoise, and other materials stand as
  some of the finest examples of bolo tie artistry; these factors make
  the neckwear a poignant testament to this region's original
  inhabitants and also to the many people of American Indian descent
  who are today Texas residents; and
         WHEREAS, A fashion accessory that can be personalized to
  reflect the wearer's taste and interests, the bolo tie is well
  matched to the individualism that is so much a part of the Texan
  identity; in selecting or designing a clasp, bolo tie wearers are
  able to express their personal flair; moreover, the selection of a
  bolo over a standard tie can suggest that the wearer refuses to be
  bound by convention and relishes the freedom to exhibit a
  distinctive sense of style even as they maintain a dignified,
  formal appearance; and
         WHEREAS, The bolo tie symbolizes both the state's iconic
  western culture and the originality of its residents, and it is
  indeed appropriate that this handsome and unique apparel receive
  special legislative recognition; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the 80th Legislature of the State of Texas
  hereby designate the bolo tie as the official State Tie of Texas.
 
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