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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Business owners play an essential role in |
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maintaining the economic vitality of Texas communities, and Rob |
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Storey of Nocona Athletic Goods Company demonstrated his stalwart |
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commitment to his employees and to his town following a crisis that |
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could have permanently closed this highly regarded enterprise; and |
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WHEREAS, Founded in 1927 as the Nocona Leather Goods Company, |
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this signature North Texas business is celebrating its 75th |
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anniversary of manufacturing baseball mitts in 2009; the first |
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glove was made in 1934, after R. E. "Bob" Storey, a former Rice |
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University baseball player and Rob Storey's great-grandfather, |
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began working for the company; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, Nocona Athletic Goods Company is the only |
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company that still mass-produces baseball gloves in the United |
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States; it is the third-largest employer in Nocona, with a |
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workforce of 85 employees who make the renowned Nokona brand of |
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baseball mitt; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2006, an electrical short started a fire in the |
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company's 80-year-old factory, burning it to the ground; with many |
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jobs and the prosperity of the town on the line, Rob Storey, the |
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company's fourth-generation owner, immediately made a commitment |
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to keep the business going and to continue paying his entire staff; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Storey relocated the production line to a former |
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boot factory within a few days, and only two months later, the |
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firm's workers were once again producing finished gloves; |
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remarkably, he was able to save the business without laying anyone |
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off or missing a single payroll; and |
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WHEREAS, Through his actions, Rob Storey has demonstrated a |
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level of loyalty, compassion, and dedication to his community to |
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which others may aspire, and it is indeed a pleasure to honor him |
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for his outstanding achievement; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend Rob Storey of Nocona Athletic Goods |
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Company for preserving the jobs of his employees and the economy of |
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Nocona in the wake of a devastating fire and extend to him sincere |
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best wishes for continued success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Storey as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |