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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Lone Star State lost an accomplished native son |
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with the passing of Western craftsman Jerry Cates of Amarillo on |
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June 3, 2011, at the age of 72; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on June 7, 1938, in Foard County to James and |
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Lillian Cates, Jerry Cates grew up on his family's farm and ranch |
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and knew at an early age that he wanted to be a cowboy; he graduated |
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from Crowell High School and served in the United States Army from |
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1956 to 1958 before moving to Amarillo the following year; he lived |
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and worked on the LX Ranch for eight years and then became a brand |
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inspector at the Amarillo Livestock Auction for the Texas and |
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Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association as well as an apprentice |
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gunsmith under Gene Davis; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1969, he and his friend Bill Handley began |
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working on bits and spurs, and Mr. Cates soon earned the |
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appreciation of area cowboys for his mastery of ironwork and |
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intricate engraving; influenced by renowned Western craftsman |
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Adolph Bayers, he became more widely known after his creations were |
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selected for inclusion in juried art shows and at rodeos and other |
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special events; he launched his own business in 1979, using 150 |
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different styles for spurs and 40 patterns for bits and engraving |
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every piece by hand; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan received commissions from |
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collectors worldwide, and his work has been featured in many |
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publications, including Cowboys and Indians and Western Horseman |
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magazines, Nordstrom's catalogs, and books on Western artistry; he |
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was the recipient of multiple awards and will be posthumously |
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inducted into the Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2012; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Cates was a generous supporter of philanthropic |
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efforts to help cowboys and families in crisis in the Panhandle and |
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South Plains regions; in addition, he donated spurs to the Texas and |
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Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and served on the Women's |
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Protective Services annual spur auction committee; widely admired |
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by his fellow artisans, he was treasurer of the Texas Style Bit and |
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Spur Association, was a founding member of the Texas Spur Makers |
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Guild, served on a nominating committee for a national bit, spur, |
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and saddle makers' association, and was active in an apprenticeship |
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program for spur makers; and |
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WHEREAS, In all of his endeavors, Mr. Cates enjoyed the love |
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and support of his wife of 50 years, Janet "Perky" Cates, with whom |
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he had three children, Yancy, Fritzi, and Heath, as well as six |
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grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, A skilled artist who worked to benefit his community |
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and to promote the traditional crafts of the American West, Jerry |
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Cates will long be remembered by all those who had the good fortune |
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to know him; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of |
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Jerry Cates and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his |
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family: to his wife, Perky Cates; to his children, Yancy Crim and |
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her husband, Marty, Fritzi Cates, and Heath Cates and his wife, |
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Gayla; to his grandchildren, Miles, Haley, Quinton, Brittany, |
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Megan, and Ryan; to his great-grandchildren, Bentlye and Blayklee; |
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and to his other 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 Jerry |
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Cates. |
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Smithee |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 210 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on June 28, 2011. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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