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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Proud residents of Lufkin are celebrating the 50th |
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anniversary of the Ellen Trout Zoo on June 17, 2017; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1965, local businessman Walter W. Trout and the |
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Lufkin Rotary Club proposed establishing a zoo that would feature |
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the fauna of East Texas, but when Mr. Trout received a baby |
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hippopotamus as a gift, the focus of the zoo shifted to include more |
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exotic creatures; and |
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WHEREAS, The zoo was officially opened on June 17, 1967, and |
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named in honor of Mr. Trout's mother, with his granddaughter |
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Barbara cutting the ribbon; in 1983, it became the fifth zoo in |
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Texas to be accredited by the American Association of Zoological |
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Parks and Aquariums, and the following year, the Friends of Ellen |
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Trout Zoo was created to help the zoo promote conservation, acquire |
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new animals, build new exhibits, and purchase equipment; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, the Ellen Trout Zoo draws some 150,000 |
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visitors each year from across East Texas and western Louisiana |
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with the opportunity to see a variety of wild animals, including |
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Maasai giraffes, southern white rhinoceroses, Malayan tigers, and |
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the largest zoo colony of cotton-top tamarin monkeys in the United |
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States; since 2002, the state-of-the-art Hippoquarium has allowed |
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visitors to view the zoo's two hippos in a natural river setting; |
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the zoo also features a miniature train, a fishing lake, a hiking |
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trail, a playground, and picnic areas; and |
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WHEREAS, More than 10,000 area students visit the facility |
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each year to learn more about the natural world; in addition, the |
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zoo is active in several important conservation efforts to help |
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preserve and increase the populations of a variety of animals, |
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including the Louisiana pine snake and the East Texas black bear, |
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and it has also provided support to protect the Orinoco crocodile, |
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the clouded leopard, jaguars, and other species whose survival is |
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at risk; and |
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WHEREAS, For half a century, the Ellen Trout Zoo has proven to |
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be an invaluable cultural and educational resource, delighting |
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residents and visitors alike with its unique collection of some of |
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the world's most remarkable creatures; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Ellen |
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Trout Zoo and extend to the zoo's staff, volunteers, and guests |
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sincere best wishes for a meaningful and memorable celebration; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Ellen Trout Zoo as an expression of high regard by |
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the Texas House of Representatives. |
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Ashby |
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| Allen |
Gonzales of Williamson |
Ortega |
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| Alonzo |
González of El Paso |
Paddie |
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| Anderson of Dallas |
Guillen |
Perez |
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| Anderson of McLennan |
Gutierrez |
Phelan |
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| Biedermann |
Howard |
Reynolds |
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| Bonnen of Brazoria |
Isaac |
Rodriguez of Bexar |
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| Bonnen of Galveston |
Israel |
Rodriguez of Travis |
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| Burkett |
Johnson of Dallas |
Romero, Jr. |
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| Burns |
Johnson of Harris |
Rose |
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| Cain |
King of Hemphill |
Schofield |
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| Canales |
King of Parker |
Schubert |
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| Capriglione |
King of Uvalde |
Shaheen |
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| Cosper |
Landgraf |
Stephenson |
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| Davis of Dallas |
Longoria |
Thompson of Brazoria |
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| Davis of Harris |
Lozano |
Thompson of Harris |
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| Dean |
Lucio III |
Tinderholt |
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| Gervin-Hawkins |
Nevárez |
Zedler |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 2371 was adopted by the House on May 25, |
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2017, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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