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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The 2007 Mesquite Championship Rodeo marks the 50th |
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anniversary of this celebrated North Texas event; and |
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WHEREAS, The Mesquite rodeo began as a result of the efforts |
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of Neal Gay, a World War II veteran and rodeo competitor who saw the |
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benefit of an annual stationary rodeo; along with his partners, Jim |
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Shoulders, D. J. "Kajun Kidd" Gaudin, Harry Tompkins, Ira Akers, |
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and Bob Grant, Mr. Gay purchased the Pleasant Mound Rodeo, |
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relocating and renaming it the Mesquite Championship Rodeo; and |
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WHEREAS, Under Mr. Gay's leadership, the inaugural rodeo was |
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held in 1958; in the 1960s and 1970s, with the addition of an arena |
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roof and the construction of Interstate Highway 635, the rodeo grew |
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in popularity, and by the mid-1980s ESPN had begun televising |
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Mesquite rodeo performances; another important milestone occurred |
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in 1985, when ground was broken for the new and updated Resistol |
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Arena, the rodeo's present home; and |
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WHEREAS, The Mesquite Championship Rodeo was acquired by Tom |
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Hicks in 1999 but continues to be managed by Mr. Gay and his family, |
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which includes his wife, Kay, and his sons, Jim, Pete, and Don; all |
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three sons competed successfully in rodeo competitions, and Neal |
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and Don Gay became the first father-son team inducted into the Pro |
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Rodeo Hall of Fame; and |
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WHEREAS, Designated the "Rodeo Capital of Texas" in 1993, |
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Mesquite continues to draw thousands of visitors to this |
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family-friendly and exciting annual event including such |
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luminaries as Prince Rainier of Monaco and Presidents Ronald Reagan |
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and George W. Bush; rodeo entertainment ranges from bull riding and |
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steer wrestling to cowboy poker and a kids' calf scramble; and |
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WHEREAS, The Mesquite Championship Rodeo stands as a |
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testament to the dedication and hard work of Neal Gay and his |
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family, and this beloved Texas institution will surely continue to |
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delight legions of devoted fans; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Mesquite |
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Championship Rodeo in 2007 and extend to all those associated with |
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the event best wishes for continued success. |