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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, For more than 30 years, Luke "Leon" Coffee has |
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protected cowboys and delighted crowds in his work as a rodeo clown; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Blanco in 1954, Leon Coffee began competing |
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in rodeos when he was just nine years old; he was a rider for 14 |
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years and joined the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in |
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1973, but in the late 1970s he took on a new role in the sport by |
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becoming a rodeo clown, a job in which he has mastered several |
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different specialized and challenging tasks; and |
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WHEREAS, Wearing his trademark green hat, Mr. Coffee quickly |
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earned a reputation as one of the sport's best bullfighters--the |
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skilled and courageous individuals responsible for distracting |
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bulls away from thrown riders and for rescuing cowboys who become |
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tangled in the bull rope during their rides; he has also excelled in |
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the role of barrel man, a figure who also works to provide |
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protection for contestants and often has to leap quickly into a |
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metal barrel to avoid the rampaging animals; in addition, he is a |
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beloved entertainer who has thrilled crowds with various antics, |
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including his trademark dance routines; and |
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WHEREAS, Now a lifetime gold card member of the PRCA, Mr. |
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Coffee was named Clown of the Year by that organization in 1983, and |
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he was listed as one of the top three candidates for that |
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prestigious honor each year from 1984 to 2001; featured at premier |
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events all across North America, he has made five appearances at the |
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National Finals Rodeo over the course of four different decades; |
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moreover, he was inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame |
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in 2004 and the National Cowboys of Color Hall of Fame in 2005, and |
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he has appeared in television programs, documentaries, and |
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commercials as well as in the movies 8 Seconds and My Heroes Have |
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Always Been Cowboys; and |
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WHEREAS, Through the decades, Mr. Coffee has become very |
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familiar with the perils of his occupation; he has broken his neck, |
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back, both wrists, and numerous other bones but continues to devote |
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himself to his work out of his love of the sport and his desire to |
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assist rodeo competitors; his generosity is also evident outside |
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the arena; he regularly makes time to visit the children's wards of |
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local hospitals during his travels, and he has participated in the |
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Adirondack Stampede Charity Rodeo in Glens Falls, New York; and |
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WHEREAS, The job of rodeo clown requires athleticism, |
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showmanship, and a willingness to risk harm to keep others from |
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danger; Leon Coffee has proven himself a master of all of these |
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talents, and he is indeed deserving of the high regard in which he |
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is held by his peers; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Leon Coffee for his distinguished career |
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as a rodeo clown and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued |
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success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Coffee as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |