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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Veteran bareback rodeo rider Rusty Riddle of Vernon |
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has been inducted into the 2009 class of the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall |
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of Fame; and |
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WHEREAS, Growing up on a dairy farm near Weatherford, Mr. |
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Riddle first became interested in rodeo riding after visiting a |
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high school rodeo in Hillsboro; he left home at age 16 to work for a |
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stock contractor, and his job gave him the opportunity to begin |
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practicing the sport of bareback riding; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1969, at the age of 18, Mr. Riddle earned his |
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rodeo permit, and the following year, he became a member of the |
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Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and joined the professional |
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rodeo circuit; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Riddle was a serious contender in bareback |
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riding from the early days of his professional career, winning the |
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title at the Cheyenne Rodeo in 1972 and at the Houston Rodeo in |
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1975; he also took first place three times at the Fort Worth Rodeo; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, An injury kept him from reaching the National Finals |
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Rodeo in 1971, but Mr. Riddle made his debut at the NFR the |
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following year; even though he competed with his arm in a cast, he |
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placed on five horses and finished fourth in the average standings; |
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so began eight consecutive appearances at the NFR, and during those |
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rodeos, he rode a total of 80 horses and was bucked off of only one |
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of them; moreover, from 1972 to 1975, he battled Joe Alexander for |
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the world championship in bareback riding, finishing as runner-up |
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each year; and |
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WHEREAS, Rusty Riddle's skill and dedication made him one of |
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the leading rodeo riders of his generation and an inspiration to |
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younger competitors, and he is truly deserving of this prestigious |
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recognition from his peers; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Rusty Riddle on his induction into |
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the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame and extend to him sincere best wishes |
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for 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. Riddle as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |