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HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The Texas Legislature has customarily recognized a |
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variety of symbols as representations of the rich cultural heritage |
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and natural history of this state; and |
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WHEREAS, From the days of the Plains Indians and the earliest |
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Spanish ranches, Texas has been a realm where expert horsemanship |
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has held a place of distinct honor; today, many of the equestrian |
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skills that have played such a crucial role in the state's history |
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are honed by adults and children alike for exhibition at rodeos and |
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other riding competitions; and |
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WHEREAS, The Ghostriders are a group of youth and adult |
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riders whose mission is to keep alive the spirit of the Old West; |
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formed on August 4, 2001, this nonprofit organization consists of |
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three units, the Ghostriders Rodeo Team, the Ghostriders Youth |
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Team, and the Texans; based at Canton, these teams perform at |
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rodeos, parades, equestrian competitions, and other special events |
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around the state; and |
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WHEREAS, Open to riders of all skill levels, the Ghostriders |
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enjoy a warm, close fellowship while training to a very high |
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standard; though established less than a decade ago, they have |
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already won numerous awards, including the U.S. Equestrian Drill |
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Competition national championship, the state rodeo drill team |
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championship, and the youth drill team championship; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to fostering exceptional horsemanship |
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and providing outstanding family entertainment, the Ghostriders |
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have played a constructive civic role through their sponsorship of |
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a scholarship and their honoring of community heroes at rodeos |
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where they have appeared; and |
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WHEREAS, At the present time, the Ghostriders enjoy |
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partnerships with the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame, as well as with the |
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Choctaw, Chickasaw, Cherokee, and Pawnee Indian nations; and |
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WHEREAS, Nearly 500 years have elapsed since horses first |
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splashed through the surf and onto Mexican soil with the |
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conquistador Hernando Cortes; during that half millennium, the |
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animal became essential to many cultures in Texas, and the horse and |
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rider emerged as one of the iconic images of the Lone Star State; |
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through their deftly executed and heart-quickening performances, |
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the Ghostriders evoke the ineffable bond that has joined countless |
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riders and their mounts, while conjuring up the myriad feats these |
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pairs have accomplished across the centuries and the vast expanses |
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of this storied land; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 80th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby designate the Ghostriders as the official Rodeo Drill Team |
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of Texas. |
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Flynn |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.C.R. No. 136 was adopted by the House on |
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March 22, 2007, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.C.R. No. 136 was adopted by the Senate on May |
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17, 2007, by a viva-voce vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |