SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 769
WHEREAS, In 1852, in spite of the danger posed by Indian
raids at the time, a group of entrepreneurs acquired land on a
cypress-lined bend in the Medina River; the following year,
members of the group surveyed the town of Bandera and opened a
sawmill and commissary; the town quickly became a thriving
settlement due to the success of the founders' water-powered
lumber mill; and
WHEREAS, In the years that followed, local farmers and
ranchers prospered, supplying products to United States Cavalry
troops at Camp Verde, raising and ginning cotton, and raising
cattle, sheep, and goats; and
WHEREAS, In the 1870s, as the threat of Indian attack
receded, the county became a staging area for cattle drives and
the population grew markedly; it is estimated that between 1874
and 1894, 7 to 10 million longhorns and one million horses were
driven by 30,000 cowboys to a staging area near Bandera, a major
gathering point connecting with the Western Trail; during this
time, Bandera became known as a place where cowboys could relax
and buy supplies; and
WHEREAS, Dude ranching began in 1920 when the Buck Ranch
took in paying summer guests, with the Bruce Ranch taking the
overflow; in the 1930s, the dude ranching industry continued to
expand and over 30 dude ranches were operating near Bandera; and
WHEREAS, Rodeos began in the 1920s when cowboys who worked
on ranches displayed their skills at roundups and on cattle
drives; the first advertised rodeo near Bandera was held at
Mansfield Park in 1924; Bandera cowboys became rodeo world
champions and were inducted into the National Cowboy Hall of
Fame; and
WHEREAS, The citizens of Bandera are heirs to a rich
western heritage; today this charming town remains a living
testament to the courage, talent, and vision of the men and women
who shaped the Old West; since 1920 the community has been a
popular tourist destination, each year drawing visitors from
around the state and beyond to attractions that include area
resorts, dude ranches, rodeo venues, and hunting and camping
areas; and
WHEREAS, The wild and rugged western town of Bandera
displayed the qualities and history of a cowboy capital long
before the first printed reference naming it the "Cowboy Capital
of the World" in 1948; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
83rd Legislature, hereby recognize the rich history of Bandera,
Texas, and pay tribute to its citizens' many contributions to the
Lone Star State; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in
honor of the citizens of Bandera as an expression of highest
regard from the Texas Senate.
Fraser
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on April 29, 2013.
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Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate