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HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Texas game wardens devote themselves to the |
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protection of the state's natural resources, and since 1895, 18 of |
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these dedicated public servants have tragically lost their lives |
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while fulfilling their important duties; and |
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WHEREAS, Game wardens, as certified peace officers, are |
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responsible for preserving the peace and enforcing the game, fish, |
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and water safety laws of Texas, which include, but are not limited |
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to, apprehending poachers and other individuals who ignore wildlife |
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law; many of the criminals that game wardens encounter have also |
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ventured into other illegal activities, such as theft or the drug |
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trade, and because game wardens are often patrolling areas with |
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hunters, loaded guns are a constant in their work; the myriad |
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challenges of the job may put them in harm's way at any time; and |
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WHEREAS, To honor those who died in the line of duty, the |
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Texas Game Warden Association erected the Game Warden Memorial at |
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the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens; the monument, a |
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bronze, life-sized statue of a warden, is dedicated to the memory of |
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Joe Williams, Harry Raymond, Dawson Richard Murchison, R. M. Wynne, |
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Gus Engeling, Claude Keller, J. D. Murphree, Joe Evans, Lloyd |
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Gustin, Ronnie Germany, James Daughtrey, Barry Decker, Bruce Hill, |
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Michael Pauling, Wes Wagstaff, Justin Hurst, Teyran "Ty" Patterson, |
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and George Harold Whatley Jr.; and |
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WHEREAS, Many Texans are unaware of the sacrifices made by |
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game wardens; the relocation of the monument to the State Capitol, |
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however, would help the public gain a greater understanding of the |
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vital mission of Texas game wardens and of the extraordinary |
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commitment they make to upholding the laws of our state and |
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protecting its natural resources; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 85th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby authorize the State Preservation Board, subject to state law |
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and rules of the board, to approve the relocation of the Texas Game |
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Warden Memorial to the State Capitol Complex, at a site outside of |
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the historic Capitol grounds; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the board consider a site south of the Sam |
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Houston Building for the location of the memorial; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward an |
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official copy of this resolution to the executive director of the |
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State Preservation Board and to the chair and president of the Texas |
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Game Warden Association. |