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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Santa Rosa Palomino Club, one of the premier |
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western riding clubs in Texas and the Southwest, is celebrating the |
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70th anniversary of its founding in 2019; and |
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WHEREAS, Based in Vernon in Wilbarger County, the Santa Rosa |
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Palomino Club was organized by 16 men in 1949; mounted on beautiful |
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palomino horses and donning colorful traditional attire, the club's |
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riders perform a precision drill at rodeos and other events |
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throughout the Southwest; around 200 men have been recruited into |
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the Palomino Club since its inception, with some being second and |
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third generation members from the same families; and |
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WHEREAS, To date, the Palomino Club has prevailed in two |
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National Drill Team Championships, brought home more than 400 |
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first-place parade trophies, and appeared at rodeos, wild west |
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shows, charity performances, and other venues in a dozen states; |
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the club has also been featured in books and articles, as well as on |
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several television programs; for many years, it has hosted the |
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Santa Rosa Roundup, a tradition begun by E. Paul Waggoner, and it |
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was instrumental in raising funds to purchase the historic rodeo |
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grounds in Vernon so that the rodeo will continue under local |
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sponsorship; and |
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WHEREAS, Members of the Palomino Club have had the |
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distinction of showcasing their talents at the inauguration parades |
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for Governors Ann Richards and George W. Bush, as well as at an |
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International Lions Club Parade; in 2012, the club represented |
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Vernon and Texas in the Tournament of Roses Parade as a guest of |
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RFD-TV, and later that same year, it was inducted into the Texas |
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Rodeo Hall of Fame in the Fort Worth Stockyards; and |
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WHEREAS, In recent decades, the club has earned a reputation |
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for its performances at the Texas Ranch Roundup, the Cattle Baron's |
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Ball, and the Bustin' Diabetes Rodeo; its notable charitable |
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activities include providing a horse for the |
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Make-A-Wish-Foundation and offering horseback rides at hospitals, |
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living centers, schools, and other events for children who might |
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otherwise never have the opportunity to ride; in recognition of its |
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rich history and admirable record of service, the Texas Legislature |
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named the group the official Ambassadors on Horseback for the State |
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of Texas, a title that it continues to hold today; and |
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WHEREAS, For seven decades, the riders of the Santa Rosa |
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Palomino Club have distinguished themselves through their skilled |
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horsemanship and their generous support of many worthy causes, and |
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the State of Texas is proud to be the home of this storied |
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organization; 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 70th anniversary of the Santa |
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Rosa Palomino Club and extend to its members sincere best wishes for |
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continued success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the club as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |