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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 510
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WHEREAS, The Muy Grande Deer Contest in Freer is celebrating |
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its 50th anniversary in 2015, and this milestone provides a fitting |
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opportunity to celebrate this exciting and popular event; and |
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WHEREAS, The competition traces its history to 1965, when |
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its founder, Leonel Garza, was serving as the manager of the |
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Center Circle Gas Station; he started the deer-hunting contest as |
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a way to draw hunters to his business, and that first year, there |
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was only one category, for the widest spread of antlers on a buck; |
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when the winner asked what he'd won, Mr. Garza, who hadn't |
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planned that far ahead, gave the man his wristwatch; and |
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WHEREAS, Named for the size of South Texas deer, the Muy |
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Grande Deer Contest is widely considered the oldest big buck contest |
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in Texas, and Mr. Garza himself is now known by the nickname "Muy"; |
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today, the event boasts more than 1,800 lifetime members and annually |
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draws more than 900 registered entrants; through the decades, many |
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celebrities have participated, including baseball great Nolan Ryan, |
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actor Slim Pickens, and musician George Strait; and |
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WHEREAS, In recent years, Mr. Garza has been assisted by |
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his daughter and son-in-law, Imelda and Kenneth Sharber; the |
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contest now encompasses 70 categories, and the annual awards |
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ceremony regularly pays tribute to youth hunters, sports |
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writers, landowners, and ranch guides; a portion of the proceeds |
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each year goes to fund scholarships for local students; and |
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WHEREAS, In its first 50 years, the Muy Grande Deer Contest |
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has grown from a moment of inspiration by "Muy" Garza into one of |
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the signature sporting events of South Texas, and this pioneering |
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competition is a source of great pride to the residents of Freer |
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and the surrounding area; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th |
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Legislature, hereby commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Muy |
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Grande Deer Contest and extend to the event's staff and participants |
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sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be |
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prepared for the Muy Grande Deer Contest as an expression of high |
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regard from the Texas Senate. |
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Zaffirini |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on April 9, 2015. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |