| 1 | 1 | | By: Guillen H.C.R. No. 131 |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, The heritage of the vaquero remains vital in South |
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| 6 | 6 | | Texas, and the central role this colorful and iconic figure has |
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| 7 | 7 | | played in the history of the Lone Star State is being celebrated |
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| 8 | 8 | | with Vaquero Day on June 30; and |
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| 9 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Renowned for their horsemanship and stock-handling |
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| 10 | 10 | | skills, vaqueros were crucial to the advance of Spanish ranching |
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| 11 | 11 | | into Texas; from the mid-18th century onward, vaqueros figured |
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| 12 | 12 | | significantly in the development of large, open-range cattle |
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| 13 | 13 | | ranches in the region between the Nueces River and the Rio Grande, |
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| 14 | 14 | | traces of which can still be seen on the land in the form of |
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| 15 | 15 | | fortified stone blockhouses, ranch outbuildings, chapels and |
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| 16 | 16 | | cemeteries, hand-dug wells, and the man-made reservoirs that made |
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| 17 | 17 | | it possible to assemble enormous herds; and |
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| 18 | 18 | | WHEREAS, With the expansion of the Texas cattle industry in |
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| 19 | 19 | | the 19th century, the vaquero's traditions shaped ranching |
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| 20 | 20 | | practices all across the state, and much of the vaquero's |
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| 21 | 21 | | equipment--his chaps, bandana, sombrero, lasso, spurs, and |
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| 22 | 22 | | saddle-- |
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| 23 | 23 | | became standard gear for all Texas cowboys, while other |
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| 24 | 24 | | elements of his craft, such as mounted herding and roping |
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| 25 | 25 | | techniques, also influenced early Anglo American practices; |
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| 26 | 26 | | eventually, these vaquero-inspired methods of working cattle |
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| 27 | 27 | | spread across the High Plains and the western part of the United |
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| 28 | 28 | | States; and |
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| 29 | 29 | | WHEREAS, Today, the proud culture of the vaquero is being |
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| 30 | 30 | | kept alive by such notable organizations as the Vaqueros of South |
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| 31 | 31 | | Texas, whose members, nearly 2,500 strong, work to preserve the |
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| 32 | 32 | | vaquero tradition for future generations; and |
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| 33 | 33 | | WHEREAS, Through a deep appreciation of the land and through |
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| 34 | 34 | | skills honed over the course of centuries, the vaquero has |
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| 35 | 35 | | contributed immeasurably to the history, culture, and economy of |
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| 36 | 36 | | South Texas and to the rich ranching heritage of the Lone Star State |
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| 37 | 37 | | and the American West; now, therefore, be it |
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| 38 | 38 | | RESOLVED, That the 85th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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| 39 | 39 | | hereby designate June 30 as Vaquero Day; and, be it further |
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| 40 | 40 | | RESOLVED, That in accordance with the provisions of Section |
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| 41 | 41 | | 391.004(d), Government Code, this designation remain in effect |
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| 42 | 42 | | until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is finally |
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| 43 | 43 | | passed by the legislature. |
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