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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, The year 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of the Muy |
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| 6 | 7 | | Grande Deer Contest in Freer, one of the state's pioneering hunting |
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| 7 | 8 | | competitions; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Muy Grande got its start in the 1960s, when Leonel |
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| 9 | 10 | | Garza, the manager of the Center Circle Gas Station in Freer, helped |
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| 10 | 11 | | a stranded outdoor sports writer whose truck had become stuck in the |
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| 11 | 12 | | mud outside town; the journalist went on to write an article about |
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| 12 | 13 | | the experience for the Victoria Advocate, and the story was |
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| 13 | 14 | | subsequently picked up by newspapers throughout the state; in 1965, |
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| 14 | 15 | | to capitalize on his newfound fame, Mr. Garza established the Muy |
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| 15 | 16 | | Grande Deer Contest, which was initially a small one-category |
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| 16 | 17 | | competition hosted in the gas station with a makeshift prize, |
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| 17 | 18 | | Mr. Garza's own wristwatch; and |
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| 18 | 19 | | WHEREAS, The contest became an annual tradition and inspired |
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| 19 | 20 | | the creation of many other hunting competitions in Texas; its |
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| 20 | 21 | | popularity led to the gas station being renamed the Muy Grande |
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| 21 | 22 | | Hunting Village, and in 2008 the store moved to a new, larger |
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| 22 | 23 | | building to keep up with the increased demand for its services; |
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| 23 | 24 | | today, the contest attracts hunters from all across Texas and the |
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| 24 | 25 | | United States, who compete in a wide range of categories divided by |
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| 25 | 26 | | age, gender, and hunting location; and |
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| 26 | 27 | | WHEREAS, The Muy Grande Deer Contest plays a significant role |
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| 27 | 28 | | in the local economy, focusing attention on the town and boosting |
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| 28 | 29 | | commerce in addition to generally promoting the area's outstanding |
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| 29 | 30 | | hunting opportunities; the event also gives back to the community |
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| 30 | 31 | | by funding scholarships that are awarded to local high school |
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| 31 | 32 | | students during the Muy Grande awards banquet; and |
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| 32 | 33 | | WHEREAS, For the past half-century, the Muy Grande Deer |
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| 33 | 34 | | Contest has served as a cultural cornerstone for residents of South |
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| 34 | 35 | | Texas and a much-anticipated gathering for hunting enthusiasts |
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| 35 | 36 | | throughout the nation, and it is indeed deserving of recognition on |
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| 36 | 37 | | the event of this milestone in its history; now, therefore, be it |
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| 37 | 38 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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| 38 | 39 | | Legislature hereby commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Muy |
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| 39 | 40 | | Grande Deer Contest and extend sincere best wishes to all those |
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| 40 | 41 | | associated with the event; and, be it further |
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| 41 | 42 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 42 | 43 | | prepared for the contest as an expression of high regard by the |
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| 43 | 44 | | Texas House of Representatives. |
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