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