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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The 93rd birthday of an esteemed Texan is truly |
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cause for celebration, and Mary Ellen "Dude" Barton reached that |
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impressive milestone on January 14, 2017; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in 1924, Mary Ellen Barton is the youngest |
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child of Wilburn Burr and Ella Orr Barton, and she grew up with |
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eight brothers and sisters on the family farm along the North Pease |
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River, in the Caprock foothills of West Texas; as a young girl, she |
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referred to the family dog as "Doot," and from that |
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mispronunciation her siblings derived young Mary Ellen's lifelong |
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nickname, "Dude"; and |
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WHEREAS, A natural on horseback, Ms. Barton used to beg her |
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father to take her with him into the fields or on cattle drives, and |
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he obliged, tying her to the saddle so she wouldn't fall off; soon |
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she was riding on her own, working on the ranch and accompanying her |
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siblings to the rodeo; and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Barton participated in rodeos at the Will Rogers |
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Coliseum as a teenager, and her experience and natural athleticism |
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gave her an edge over the other contestants; she was a fierce |
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competitor in barrel racing and in an event roughly equivalent to |
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musical chairs on horseback, which she won at least nine times; and |
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WHEREAS, Later in life, Ms. Barton helped organize the All |
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Girls Rodeo Association; in 1984, she was inducted into the Cowgirl |
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Hall of Fame in Hereford, and a large photo of her is featured at the |
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Cowgirl Hall of Fame in Fort Worth; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the course of more than nine decades, Dude |
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Barton has met life's challenges with grace and good humor, and she |
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has earned the admiration and deep affection of all who are |
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privileged to know her; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Mary Ellen "Dude" Barton on her |
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93rd birthday and extend to her sincere best wishes for continued |
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happiness; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Ms. Barton as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |