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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Isora DeRacy Young of Stephenville is celebrating |
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her 106th birthday on May 20, 2011, and it is indeed a pleasure to |
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recognize this distinguished member of the National Cowgirl Hall of |
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Fame on such a joyous occasion; and |
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WHEREAS, The daughter of Homer and Catherine Johnson, the |
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former Isora Johnson was born on May 20, 1905, and grew up on a ranch |
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south of Pecos; she loved to rope and ride from an early age, but as |
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a young wife and mother, she worked for a time as a deputy in the |
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Reeves County sheriff's department, collecting taxes with a |
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pearl-handled revolver at her side; after her daughter grew older, |
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she traveled all over the country performing and was promoted as one |
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of only two cowgirl calf ropers in the world; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1939, she married cowboy I. W. "Dub" Young, and |
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they traveled together to compete in rodeos across the West; Mrs. |
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Young was a talented barrel racer as well as a calf roper, and she |
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helped establish the Girls Rodeo Association, the first |
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professional sports organization for women; and |
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WHEREAS, Mrs. Young and her husband bought a ranch near |
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Stephenville and then lived on a ranch in South Dakota until they |
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retired from competition; they later returned to Erath County, |
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where Mrs. Young founded an income tax service and built up a |
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clientele of more than 400; after her husband's passing in 1976, she |
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settled in Stephenville; and |
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WHEREAS, The National Cowgirl Hall of Fame inducted Mrs. |
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Young in 1979, and she is a member of the Texas Rodeo Hall of Fame as |
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well; today, she continues to live independently with her cat and |
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enjoys eating spicy food; the cherished matriarch is surrounded by |
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the love of a fine family that includes three granddaughters, six |
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great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Through the years, Isora DeRacy Young has set an |
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example of strength, confidence, and enterprise as a pioneering |
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cowgirl and successful rancher and tax professional, and she is a |
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lasting source of inspiration to all who are privileged to know her; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Isora DeRacy Young on the occasion |
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of her 106th birthday and extend to her 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 Mrs. Young as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |