83R29552 JWI-D
By: Isaac H.R. No. 2691
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, For more than 30 years, Luke "Leon" Coffee has
protected cowboys and delighted crowds in his work as a rodeo clown;
and
WHEREAS, Born in Blanco in 1954, Leon Coffee began competing
in rodeos when he was just nine years old; he was a rider for 14
years and joined the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in
1973, but in the late 1970s he took on a new role in the sport by
becoming a rodeo clown, a job in which he has mastered several
different specialized and challenging tasks; and
WHEREAS, Wearing his trademark green hat, Mr. Coffee quickly
earned a reputation as one of the sport's best bullfighters--the
skilled and courageous individuals responsible for distracting
bulls away from thrown riders and for rescuing cowboys who become
tangled in the bull rope during their rides; he has also excelled in
the role of barrel man, a figure who also works to provide
protection for contestants and often has to leap quickly into a
metal barrel to avoid the rampaging animals; in addition, he is a
beloved entertainer who has thrilled crowds with various antics,
including his trademark dance routines; and
WHEREAS, Now a lifetime gold card member of the PRCA, Mr.
Coffee was named Clown of the Year by that organization in 1983, and
he was listed as one of the top three candidates for that
prestigious honor each year from 1984 to 2001; featured at premier
events all across North America, he has made five appearances at the
National Finals Rodeo over the course of four different decades;
moreover, he was inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame
in 2004 and the National Cowboys of Color Hall of Fame in 2005, and
he has appeared in television programs, documentaries, and
commercials as well as in the movies 8 Seconds and My Heroes Have
Always Been Cowboys; and
WHEREAS, Through the decades, Mr. Coffee has become very
familiar with the perils of his occupation; he has broken his neck,
back, both wrists, and numerous other bones but continues to devote
himself to his work out of his love of the sport and his desire to
assist rodeo competitors; his generosity is also evident outside
the arena; he regularly makes time to visit the children's wards of
local hospitals during his travels, and he has participated in the
Adirondack Stampede Charity Rodeo in Glens Falls, New York; and
WHEREAS, The job of rodeo clown requires athleticism,
showmanship, and a willingness to risk harm to keep others from
danger; Leon Coffee has proven himself a master of all of these
talents, and he is indeed deserving of the high regard in which he
is held by his peers; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
Legislature hereby honor Leon Coffee for his distinguished career
as a rodeo clown and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued
success; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Coffee as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.