| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, The 25th annual Trappings of Texas Custom Cowboy |
|
|
Gear and Western Art Exhibit and Sale is taking place at the Museum |
|
|
of the Big Bend at Sul Ross State University in Alpine on February |
|
|
25 and 26, 2011, and this occasion provides a welcome opportunity to |
|
|
recognize the creator and longtime curator of the event, Gary |
|
|
Dunshee; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, After attending a cowboy poetry reading in Elko, |
|
|
Nevada, in 1985, Gary Dunshee and Sul Ross faculty member Dr. |
|
|
Barbara Nelson decided to start a similar tradition in Alpine; |
|
|
while Dr. Nelson organized the first Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering, |
|
|
Mr. Dunshee, co-owner of Big Bend Saddlery, collected Western gear |
|
|
to display as part of the event, and his efforts gave birth to the |
|
|
Trappings of Texas exhibit; he went on to serve as curator of the |
|
|
annual show for 16 years; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Trappings of Texas is the sole fund-raiser held at |
|
|
the Museum of the Big Bend, and a portion of the proceeds goes to |
|
|
support exhibits and educational programs throughout the year; the |
|
|
2011 show is once again taking place in conjunction with the Texas |
|
|
Cowboy Poetry Gathering and features more than 120 works by over 60 |
|
|
artists; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Dunshee has owned Big Bend Saddlery since 1977 |
|
|
and has built award-winning saddles for the Professional Rodeo |
|
|
Cowboys Association and done custom work for many celebrities; he |
|
|
has served as a sponsor of the Working Ranch Cowboys Association and |
|
|
participated in that group's World Championship Ranch Rodeo as well |
|
|
as the Western Heritage Classic Ranch Rodeo, the Texas Ranch |
|
|
Roundup, and the Tejas Vaquero Trail Ride; in addition, he has |
|
|
demonstrated his saddle-making skills nationwide, including at the |
|
|
Smithsonian Institution; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, This notable Texan is a former president of the |
|
|
Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences and Rodeo Exes |
|
|
Association at Sul Ross State University, and he is a financial |
|
|
contributor to the school and an avid recruiter for the |
|
|
agricultural program; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In all of his endeavors, Mr. Dunshee enjoys the love |
|
|
and support of his wife, Hillary, and their two children, Wade and |
|
|
Mattie; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Gary Dunshee is a skilled artist who has worked to |
|
|
benefit his community and to preserve and promote the traditional |
|
|
crafts of the American West, and he may indeed take pride in his |
|
|
many achievements; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby honor Gary Dunshee, founder of the Trappings of |
|
|
Texas Custom Cowboy Gear and Western Art Exhibit and Sale, on the |
|
|
occasion of the event's 25th anniversary; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for Mr. Dunshee as an expression of high regard by the |
|
|
Texas House of Representatives. |