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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Cyclists are gearing up for the Hotter'N Hell |
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Hundred bike ride in Wichita Falls in August 2013, an annual event |
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that has attracted about 300,000 participants over the course of |
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the last three decades; and |
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WHEREAS, The Hotter'N Hell Hundred was first staged during |
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the town's centennial in 1982, with riders commemorating the 100th |
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anniversary by riding 100 miles in 100-degree weather; organized by |
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the Wichita Falls Bicycling Club and the centennial planning |
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committee, the inaugural countywide race drew 1,200 cyclists and |
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was, at the time, the largest single-day century ride in the nation; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, With each successive year, the HHH attracted greater |
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attention in Wichita Falls, throughout surrounding counties, and |
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beyond; volunteers, businesses, nonprofit groups, and service |
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organizations began helping coordinate the ride, and attendance |
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remained strong; by 1987, 11,000 people had taken part in the |
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challenge, and as time went by, it became a favorite destination for |
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fitness enthusiasts from across the United States and around the |
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world; and |
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WHEREAS, Now one of the nation's oldest and largest cycling |
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events, the HHH has expanded from a single-day to a four-day |
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gathering; among the features that have been added are |
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mountain-biking activities, trail runs, road and criterium races |
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sanctioned by USA Cycling, and a large trade show with food vendors |
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from around the country; and |
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WHEREAS, The number of volunteers has grown from 250 in the |
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first year to well over 5,000 in 2012, including 1,000 medical |
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personnel; embodying the strong community spirit in the local area, |
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the volunteers work to register riders, provide them with supplies, |
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attend to them at rest stops, and see them safely across the finish |
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line; any participants who are unable to complete the routes on |
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their own are driven to their destinations via volunteer-run sag |
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wagons; and |
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WHEREAS, Proceeds from the HHH are used to support a range of |
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worthwhile endeavors, including the development of parks, exercise |
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trails, and other public facilities; these contributions have, over |
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time, helped to rebuild the city's namesake waterfalls and to |
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construct the River Bend Nature Center and various historical |
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sculptures; the race has also underwritten scholarships for the |
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Midwestern State University Cycling Team and has benefited the Navy |
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Seabees and the U.S. Air Force at Sheppard Air Force Base, the |
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American Red Cross, the Children's Miracle Network, BikeTexas, |
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Wichita Falls Amateur Radio, and area police and fire departments; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, With its warm hospitality soothing the strain of its |
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rather inhospitable weather, the Hotter'N Hell Hundred has become |
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one of the classic cycling events in the United States and a |
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signature celebration for Wichita Falls, and it is indeed deserving |
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of special recognition; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 32nd annual Hotter'N Hell |
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Hundred bicycle ride, honor the cyclists who have gamely set off at |
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the starting line over the past 31 years, and extend to all of the |
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race's riders, organizers, and volunteers sincere best wishes for a |
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successful and memorable event; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Hotter'N Hell Hundred as an expression of high |
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regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |