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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Family farms and ranches have long been essential to |
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the economy and culture of the Lone Star State, and the White Ranch |
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in Chambers County is indeed deserving of recognition for its |
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important role in the history of Southeast Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, The White Ranch traces its origins back to 1828, |
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when James Taylor White settled in present-day Chambers County and |
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established a cattle ranch; the operation began with a stock of a |
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dozen cattle, and over the years, the herd grew to some 10,000 head; |
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a pioneer in the cattle-raising industry, Mr. White developed what |
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would stand for many years as the industry's prime business model, |
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trailing cattle from the ranch where they were raised to market; he |
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drove his cattle along the Opelousas Trail to Louisiana, where they |
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could be sold for a higher price than they would earn in Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, The ranch has been operated by the White family for |
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many generations, and its original "Crossed W" brand is the oldest |
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Texas cattle brand in continuous use; during the 1860s, James |
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Taylor White II and his brother-in-law, James Jackson, built one of |
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the first cattle fences at the ranch; today, James Taylor White's |
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great-great-great-grandson Bill White and his wife, Katherine, are |
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holding the reins, and they have continued the tradition of |
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swimming their cattle across the Intracoastal Canal each fall to |
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winter pasture on Bolivar Peninsula and then back in the spring; and |
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WHEREAS, For nearly two centuries, the White Ranch has |
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contributed to the rich heritage of Southeast Texas, and the White |
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family may take great pride in all they have done to make the ranch |
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one of the treasures of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize the White Ranch for 195 years of |
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continuous operation as well as for having the oldest Texas cattle |
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brand in continuous use and extend to the members of the White |
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family sincere best 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 family as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |