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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A rich and purposeful life has drawn to a close with |
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the death of rodeo rider and producer Joe Davis of Fulshear on March |
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25, 2019, at the age of 85; and |
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WHEREAS, "Smokey" Davis was born in Crosby on August 25, |
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1933, to Joe and Alice Davis; he started breakaway roping at the age |
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of 9, winning his first adult event at 11, and he exhibited cattle |
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at major livestock shows in Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio while |
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he was in high school; he went on to attend the University of |
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Houston, where he was president of the rodeo team and competed in |
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five events, calf roping, steer roping, steer wrestling, bareback |
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riding, and bull riding; and |
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WHEREAS, Working as a machinist from 1955 until his |
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retirement in 1972, Mr. Davis also operated a ranch and continued |
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to compete in the rodeo on the weekends; he and a partner started |
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Round-Up Rodeo Productions in 1972, and in 1978, he founded the |
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Rafter D Rodeo Company, which staged 50 rodeos a year throughout |
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Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana, including shows for such |
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dignitaries as Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Queen Beatrix of |
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the Netherlands; over the years, he supplied livestock and |
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locations for many motion picture and television productions, |
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including the television miniseries Lonesome Dove and the series |
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The Son; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Davis served on the board of the International |
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Professional Rodeo Association as the stock contractor for the |
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Southern Region for 22 years, and he was a lifetime committee member |
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of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo; he was also a member of the |
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Southern Rodeo Association and the Texas Rodeo Association, each of |
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which named him producer of the year on many occasions; his other |
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honors include induction into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame |
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and the South Central Texas Rodeo Ring of Honor; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Davis shared 62 years with his wife, Betty, |
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until her death in 2016; he was the proud father of 5 children, |
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Steve, Donnie, Ronnie, Kathy, and Karen, and later in life he was |
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blessed with 10 grandchildren, Jason, Jake, Lesliann, Brettney, |
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Hunter, Alicia, Ian, Caley, John, and the late John Edward Nemeth, |
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as well as 20 great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, A devoted family man and a true Texas cowboy, Smokey |
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Davis lived a life that was rich in professional and personal |
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accomplishments, and he will forever be a source of inspiration to |
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those he leaves behind; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Joe "Smokey" Davis |
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and extend heartfelt sympathy to his relatives and many friends; |
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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 his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Smokey |
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Davis. |
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Kacal |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1271 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on April 26, 2019. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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