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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, More than one town claims to be the "Cowboy Capital |
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of the World," but Stephenville can surely strengthen its case by |
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virtue of its status as the hometown of Whit Keeney, who has resided |
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in Erath County for all of his 92 years and continues to embody the |
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true spirit of pioneer Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, A member of the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame, Mr. |
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Keeney holds a gold card from the Professional Rodeo Cowboys |
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Association and has won 37 trophy saddles; in addition, he won eight |
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consecutive all-around championships at the National Old Timers |
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Rodeo and was inducted into the Stephenville Cowboy Capital Walk of |
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Fame in 1999; and |
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WHEREAS, His immense skill at roping and bulldogging made a |
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lasting impression on countless observers, among them a young |
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neighbor; years later she vividly recalled as "almost magical" the |
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way Mr. Keeney worked with his horse and his dogs to pen and load a |
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Holstein bull that had attacked her grandfather and brother; Mr. |
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Keeney also raised and trained border collies and entertained with |
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them at rodeos; and |
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WHEREAS, In North Central and Central Texas, several |
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generations of youngsters grew up idolizing Mr. Keeney; they |
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learned the cowboy trade by watching him work livestock and rope |
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everything from a wild cow to a pig, and even a housecat or two, as |
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easily as taking a casual sip of coffee; early in his career, he |
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roped with Will Rogers at the Texas Cowboy Reunion, which was |
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founded in Stamford in 1930 to preserve the cowboy way of life; |
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still doing his part for preservation more than half a century |
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later, Mr. Keeney could be found out in the countryside roping |
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cattle when he was a few decades past Social Security retirement |
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age; and |
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WHEREAS, This quintessential Texan has been described as "a |
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real character as well as a real cowboy," and his friends and |
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admirers cherish his distinctive sense of humor and endearing |
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personality; the Lone Star State takes great pride in its frontier |
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heritage and rugged individualism, and Whit Keeney exemplifies |
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both; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize Whit Keeney of Stephenville for his |
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myriad accomplishments and extend to him sincere best wishes for |
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continued happiness; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Keeney as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |