84R5241 BPG-D
By: Larson H.C.R. No. 79
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Pop music superstar Phil Collins has donated his
magnificent collection of historical artifacts to the State of
Texas for display at the Alamo; and
WHEREAS, Born in London in 1951, Mr. Collins became
interested in the Battle of the Alamo as a boy while watching the
classic Walt Disney television series Davy Crockett, King of the
Wild Frontier; his interest in collecting was sparked in 1994, when
his wife gave him a receipt for a saddle sold by John W. Smith, a
courier who departed from the Alamo before the battle and who
eventually became the first mayor of San Antonio; subsequently, he
received more such presents, and he began purchasing items
connected to the Alamo and early Texas history; and
WHEREAS, On his second visit to San Antonio in 2004,
Mr. Collins formed a friendship with the owner of the History Shop,
located just a short distance from the mission; the ground under the
store had never been excavated, so Mr. Collins arranged for and
participated in a historical dig that recovered a host of
significant objects; in addition, he made possible the installation
in the History Shop of a large diorama of the Alamo compound, and he
recorded narration that enhances its depiction of the positions of
Texian defenders during the attack; he also recognized the
importance of George Nelson's book The Alamo: An Illustrated
History and funded two reprintings of the work; and
WHEREAS, In 2009, Mr. Collins was named an honorary member of
a chapter of the Sons of the Republic of Texas and was featured as a
guest speaker at the Remembrance Ceremony hosted by the Alamo
Defenders Descendants Association; he was subsequently awarded an
honorary doctorate in history by McMurry University; moreover, he
authored a beautifully illustrated book, The Alamo and Beyond: A
Collector's Journey, which received a 2013 Publication Award from
the San Antonio Conservation Society; and
WHEREAS, Over the years, Mr. Collins assembled what is now
considered the world's largest private collection of Alamo and
Texas Revolution artifacts; it includes hundreds of documents,
among them a letter from Stephen F. Austin and an 1835 grant of land
to Sam Houston, as well as a rifle and leather pouch owned by David
Crockett and a knife carried in battle by Jim Bowie; and
WHEREAS, The donation of this phenomenal collection will
greatly enhance the experience of visitors to the Alamo, providing
them with a greater understanding and appreciation of the famous
battle and its place in the arc of history; Phil Collins has long
been admired by innumerable fans across Texas for his musical
accomplishments, and by sharing his love of our frontier heritage
through this superlative gift, he has earned the lasting respect
and gratitude of all residents of the Lone Star State; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 84th Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby recognize Phil Collins as an honorary Texan and commend him
for the generous donation of his remarkable collection of
historical artifacts; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Collins as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives and Senate.