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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The year 2019 marks the 80th anniversary of Cal |
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Farley's Boys Ranch, a residential community near Amarillo that is |
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dedicated to bettering the lives of at-risk youth; and |
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WHEREAS, Cal Farley, a semiprofessional baseball player and |
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wrestler, founded the ranch on 120 acres of land in 1939 in hopes of |
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providing assistance to boys from the Amarillo area who came from |
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broken homes; by 1941, it had enrolled around two dozen residents, |
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and it grew rapidly as word traveled about the important work being |
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done by the organization; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1944, the Texas Legislature created the Boys |
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Ranch Independent School District, which encompasses four schools |
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that serve children from kindergarten through 12th grade; also |
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during the 1940s, the first Boys Ranch Rodeo was held, and it has |
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since grown into a beloved tradition that gives children the |
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opportunity to showcase their skills and compete in a range of |
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exciting rodeo activities; and |
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WHEREAS, Following the passing of Mr. Farley in 1967, other |
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dedicated individuals have carried on his legacy by striving to |
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instill the values of integrity, hard work, faith, and perseverance |
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in subsequent generations of young people; the ranch merged with |
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the organization Girlstown, U.S.A., in 1987, and it went on to |
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become coeducational in 1992 with the opening of the first girls |
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home on the campus; and |
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WHEREAS, Much has changed in the world since Boys Ranch |
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welcomed its first class, and the organization has continued to |
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adapt as experts have gained a better understanding of children's |
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neurological development; today, the ranch maintains a strong |
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emphasis on enabling young people to gain real-world experience |
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that will serve them well on their journeys to becoming |
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self-sufficient adults, and it likewise places a high priority on |
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encouraging healthy relationships between ranch residents and |
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their families; and |
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WHEREAS, The past few decades have witnessed the |
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establishment of new facilities to further the ranch's mission; in |
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2010, Boys Ranch celebrated the opening of an Alumni Independent |
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Living Center that includes transitional apartments for those |
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beginning life on their own; and |
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WHEREAS, For eight decades, Cal Farley's Boys Ranch has |
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provided young people with the guidance, structure, and support |
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that they need to realize a brighter future, and it is indeed a |
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pleasure to recognize the organization's exceptional achievements |
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during this milestone year; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Cal Farley's Boys Ranch on the occasion of |
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its 80th anniversary and extend to the ranch's leadership and staff |
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sincere best wishes for 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 Cal Farley's Boys Ranch as an expression of high regard |
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by the Texas House of Representatives. |