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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The life of a renowned artist and horseman drew to a |
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close with the passing of Jim Reno of Kerrville on November 1, 2008, |
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at the age of 79; and |
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WHEREAS, Considered to be one of the world's top sculptors of |
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equestrian subjects, Mr. Reno created monumental bronze images of |
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famous racehorses as well as a variety of western-themed works; his |
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knowledge of his subjects came from firsthand experience, and he |
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enjoyed a successful career as a trainer of cutting horses in |
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addition to his accomplishments as an artist; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Reno was born on March 14, 1929, in Wheeling, |
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West Virginia, and was raised in Indiana; his love of horses began |
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at age seven, when he got a job cleaning stalls at the county |
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fairgrounds, and his fascination with the animals later inspired |
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him to depict them in drawings and wood carvings; his talent earned |
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him a scholarship to the John Herron Art Institute in Indianapolis, |
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where he completed his formal studies; and |
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WHEREAS, Following his graduation in 1952, he headed for the |
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Lone Star State, hoping to become a full-time artist; when |
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commissions failed to materialize, he supported himself as a horse |
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trainer, and his work with cutting horses became an important and |
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enduring part of his life; he won acclaim for winning steeds such as |
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Madida, Sab, and Shorty Lena, and he and his wife, Mary Jo, |
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ultimately built a respected training operation at their ranch in |
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Kerrville; Mr. Reno was a prominent figure in the National Cutting |
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Horse Association, serving as president and as a member of the |
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executive board, and he was inducted into the NCHA Hall of Fame; and |
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WHEREAS, His success as an artist required perseverance, but |
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in time, word of his abilities began to spread; his major |
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breakthrough came in 1973, when he was commissioned by the owner of |
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racehorse Secretariat to create a monument to the Triple Crown |
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winner; a second statue that he made of the famed Thoroughbred |
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stands at the entrance to the Kentucky Horse Park, and other pieces |
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by Mr. Reno are found at the headquarters of the American Quarter |
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Horse Association in Amarillo, on the Texas Walk of Heroes at Sea |
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World in San Antonio, and at the Houston Astrodome; in total, he |
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completed 16 large-scale sculptures as well as numerous smaller |
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ones that are prized by collectors; and |
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WHEREAS, Through his lifelong love of horses and the western |
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culture they symbolize, Jim Reno realized many notable achievements |
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in two fields of endeavor, and he leaves behind a wealth of |
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inspiring artwork to be appreciated by his fellow Texans; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Jim Reno and extend |
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sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his wife, Mary |
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Jo Schrock Reno; to his children, Kathy Boone and her husband, Dan, |
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Jimmy Reno and his wife, Carmen, Johnny Reno and his wife, Amy, |
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Charlie Coon and his wife, Caryn, Mike Coon, and Scotty Eisaman and |
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his wife, Tami; to his grandchildren, Kelly Reina, Jill Smetek, |
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Jodie Cerny, Travis Reno, Tyler Reno, Kendall Coon, Cyndi Coon, and |
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Marty Boone; to his great-grandchildren, Bailey Reina, Rylee Reina, |
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Chance Cerny, Cassie Cerny, and Julie Smetek; and to his other |
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relatives and friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day it do so in memory of Jim Reno. |