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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Camp La Junta in Hunt celebrated its 90th |
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anniversary in 2018, and the occasion provides a fitting |
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opportunity to reflect on the camp's rich history; and |
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WHEREAS, Named for an Indian word that means "the gathering |
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place," Camp La Junta traces its roots to 1928, when Dr. Ferdinand |
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Walsh invited four children to spend the summer at his Hill Country |
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home, located at the convergence of the north and south forks of the |
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Guadalupe River; by the following year, he had built three small |
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cabins near his house to accommodate 30 boys who spent eight weeks |
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at the camp; in 1931, Dr. Walsh and his son, Ralph, purchased an |
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adjacent piece of property, which remains the main grounds of Camp |
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La Junta; and |
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WHEREAS, During the 1940s, the camp was sold to E. C. Gandy |
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of Corpus Christi; Luther and Tal Graham joined the staff to run the |
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horseback riding program in 1948, and the couple purchased the camp |
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in 1956; after their son, Larry, came home from his service in the |
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U.S. Navy in 1969, he introduced a waterfront program and the |
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Advanced Camper Program, and he continues to serve as director |
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emeritus; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, Camp La Junta benefits from the leadership of |
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its owners, David Domingue and Blake and Cheryl Smith, and its camp |
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directors, Scott and Katie Fineske, who oversee a wide variety of |
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exciting activities, including horseback riding, mountain biking, |
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shooting sports, tennis, archery, and waterborne activities such as |
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kayaking, sailing, scuba diving, and swimming; and |
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WHEREAS, For nine decades, Camp La Junta has provided a |
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nurturing, challenging, and safe environment for young men to |
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experience the outdoors, gain new skills, build character, and |
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learn self-confidence, and it is truly deserving of special |
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recognition; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 90th anniversary of Camp La |
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Junta and extend to the camp's management and staff sincere best |
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wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the facility as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |