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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, For more than 75 years, Stephenville has played a |
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significant role in preserving and promoting the heritage of the |
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American rodeo and the cowboy way of life; and |
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WHEREAS, Considered by many to be the Cowboy Capital of the |
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World, Stephenville and its vicinity first became important to the |
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history of rodeo in 1937, when Everett Colborn moved his new rodeo |
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company to the nearby Lightning C Ranch, where he raised some of the |
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best rodeo stock in the world; during the 1950s, George and Beulah |
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Brown, the only husband and wife to be inducted into the Texas |
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Cowboy Hall of Fame, helped introduce rodeo to the area; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, Stephenville is headquarters of the United |
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States Team Roping Championship, and it is home to Lone Star Arena, |
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a premier rodeo venue that also hosts expositions, concerts, horse |
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shows, and other events; the city is also home to Tarleton State |
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University and its championship rodeo team; since 1947, Tarleton |
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riders and ropers have won 21 individual national titles in such |
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events as barrel racing, calf roping, and steer wrestling, and |
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Tarleton teams have taken six national titles; the team is one of |
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the largest in the nation, boasting more than 100 members; and |
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WHEREAS, Many championship riders and their families have |
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lived in the surrounding county, including world champion bull and |
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bronc rider Harry Tompkins, bull-riding champion Ty Murray and his |
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wife, the singer Jewel, world champion bull rider Tuff Hedeman, the |
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twin brother bull riders Adam and Gilbert Carrillo, and |
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J. J. Hampton, who has won more championships than any other woman |
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in professional rodeo; Stephenville was also the home of pioneering |
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barrel racer and National Cowgirl Hall of Fame inductee Isora |
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Young; many of these individuals have been honored in |
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Stephenville's Cowboy Capital Walk of Fame; and |
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WHEREAS, The rich history of the Western cowboy and cowgirl, |
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with their code of honor, dedication to traditional values, and |
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strong work ethic, remains vital and alive in Stephenville, and the |
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city's residents may indeed take great pride in the role they have |
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played in sustaining this outstanding cultural legacy; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature, 2nd Called Session, hereby honor Stephenville for its |
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long history as a center of Western heritage and extend to the |
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city's officials and residents sincere best wishes for continued |
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success in their maintenance of this proud tradition; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the City of Stephenville as an expression of high |
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regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |