SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 997
WHEREAS, John Wayne is the prototypical American hero,
symbolizing such traits as self-reliance, grace under pressure,
resolve, and patriotism; and
WHEREAS, Born Marion Robert Morrison on May 26, 1907, in
Winterset, Iowa, he moved with his parents as a young boy to
California; in 1916, while the family was living in Glendale, he
began going by "Duke," a nickname that followed him throughout
his life; and
WHEREAS, In 1925, he began attending the University of
Southern California on a football scholarship, playing offensive
lineman; after breaking his collarbone in a surfing accident
before his junior year, he withdrew from the university and began
working at Fox Film Corporation as a laborer moving set props and
as an occasional extra in movies; and
WHEREAS, While working at the studio, he met Wyatt Earp, who
was a consultant to Western film director John Ford, and he would
adopt some of Earp's mannerisms for his roles as a cowboy; and
WHEREAS, The first film in which he was the leading actor
was The Big Trail in 1930; it was then that the studio gave him
the screen name "John Wayne," which he would use for the
remainder of his acting career; and
WHEREAS, Starring in classic Western films such as
Stagecoach, Red River, The Searchers, and True Grit, Wayne
personified the archetypal cowboy who is rough-edged and
plainspoken but also capable of great warmth, kindness, and
generosity; he won an Oscar in 1970 for Best Actor for his role as
Rooster Cogburn in True Grit; and
WHEREAS, Although best known for his Westerns, John Wayne
had an impressive list of performances in other genres, such as
the World War II films Flying Tigers and Sands of Iwo Jima; and
WHEREAS, Wayne was an avid supporter of the United States
military and toured bases and hospitals in the South Pacific in
1943 and 1944 with the United Service Organizations; and
WHEREAS, In The Alamo, his first film as a director, John
Wayne played the role of Davy Crockett; the film won an Oscar
nomination in 1961 for Best Picture; Wayne also directed and
starred in The Green Berets, which was released in 1968 and was
set in Vietnam; and
WHEREAS, Over the course of his acting career, John Wayne
practically invented the Western hero by combining rugged
masculinity with the courage to stand up to authority when
necessary, the strength to match any opponent, and the
determination to prevail against great odds; John Wayne endures
as a cultural icon, and his films continue to appeal to new
audiences; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th
Legislature, hereby recognize May 26, 2015 as John Wayne Day;
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in
honor of this special occasion and as a tribute to the life of
John Wayne.
Nichols
Bettencourt Hall Rodríguez Bettencourt Hall Rodríguez
Bettencourt Hall Rodríguez
Birdwell Hancock Schwertner Birdwell Hancock Schwertner
Birdwell Hancock Schwertner
Burton Hinojosa Seliger Burton Hinojosa Seliger
Burton Hinojosa Seliger
Campbell Huffines Taylor of Galveston Campbell Huffines Taylor of Galveston
Campbell Huffines Taylor of Galveston
Creighton Huffman Taylor of Collin Creighton Huffman Taylor of Collin
Creighton Huffman Taylor of Collin
Ellis Kolkhorst Uresti Ellis Kolkhorst Uresti
Ellis Kolkhorst Uresti
Eltife Lucio Watson Eltife Lucio Watson
Eltife Lucio Watson
Estes Menéndez West Estes Menéndez West
Estes Menéndez West
Fraser Nelson Whitmire Fraser Nelson Whitmire
Fraser Nelson Whitmire
Garcia Perry Zaffirini Garcia Perry Zaffirini
Garcia Perry Zaffirini
Patrick, President of the Senate
________________________________
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on May 26, 2015.
________________________________
Secretary of the Senate
________________________________
Member, Texas Senate
Bettencourt Hall Rodríguez
Birdwell Hancock Schwertner
Burton Hinojosa Seliger
Campbell Huffines Taylor of Galveston
Creighton Huffman Taylor of Collin
Ellis Kolkhorst Uresti
Eltife Lucio Watson
Estes Menéndez West
Fraser Nelson Whitmire
Garcia Perry Zaffirini