| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, The 40th annual Great Texas Balloon Race is taking |
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| 6 | 7 | | place in Longview from July 28-30, 2017, and this milestone year |
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| 7 | 8 | | provides a fitting opportunity to reflect on the event's rich |
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| 8 | 9 | | history; and |
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| 9 | 10 | | WHEREAS, This renowned balloon race had its start in 1978, |
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| 10 | 11 | | when Dr. Bill Bussey, a hot air balloon pilot who held more than a |
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| 11 | 12 | | dozen world records, agreed to use his balloon to promote the grand |
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| 12 | 13 | | opening of the Longview Mall; in return, the mall's managers |
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| 13 | 14 | | supported him in establishing a race, and the following year, 20 |
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| 14 | 15 | | balloons were launched from the mall parking lot; and |
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| 15 | 16 | | WHEREAS, More local businesses soon joined in the effort to |
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| 16 | 17 | | make the affair a success, and in 1981, Dr. Bussey and his fellow |
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| 17 | 18 | | pilots originated the popular "balloon glow," an evening attraction |
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| 18 | 19 | | featuring tethered balloons lit from within, creating the effect of |
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| 19 | 20 | | giant lanterns flickering in the night; this popular tradition has |
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| 20 | 21 | | since been repeated yearly and replicated at balloon events all |
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| 21 | 22 | | over the world; and |
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| 22 | 23 | | WHEREAS, Today, the Great Texas Balloon Race is based at the |
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| 23 | 24 | | East Texas Regional Airport, with pilots competing for the Texas |
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| 24 | 25 | | State Championship title and, this year, for the Southwest Regional |
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| 25 | 26 | | Championship title; from 2012 to 2015, the event was also the host |
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| 26 | 27 | | site for the Balloon Federation of America National Championship |
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| 27 | 28 | | contest; one of the most highly anticipated races of the weekend is |
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| 28 | 29 | | the Controlled Navigational Trajectory Event, now known as the |
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| 29 | 30 | | Fly-in, or the ring toss, where balloonists try to steer their |
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| 30 | 31 | | balloon toward a 12-inch ring atop a 20-foot pole; over its 40-year |
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| 31 | 32 | | history, the race has awarded more than $1.5 million in prize money |
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| 32 | 33 | | to competing pilots; and |
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| 33 | 34 | | WHEREAS, Every summer, Longview and the surrounding |
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| 34 | 35 | | communities welcome the best hot air balloon pilots from across the |
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| 35 | 36 | | nation and around the world, as well as tens of thousands of |
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| 36 | 37 | | spectators, and in 2013, the 83rd Texas Legislature declared Gregg |
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| 37 | 38 | | County the Balloon Race Capital of Texas; and |
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| 38 | 39 | | WHEREAS, For 40 years, this spectacular competition has |
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| 39 | 40 | | brought great pride to the Gregg County community while thrilling |
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| 40 | 41 | | residents and visitors alike with the unforgettable sight of vivid, |
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| 41 | 42 | | colorful balloons soaring against the East Texas sky; now, |
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| 42 | 43 | | therefore, be it |
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| 43 | 44 | | RESOLVED, That the 85th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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| 44 | 45 | | hereby commemorate the 40th annual Great Texas Balloon Race and |
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| 45 | 46 | | extend to all those associated with the competition sincere best |
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| 46 | 47 | | wishes for a meaningful and memorable event; and, be it further |
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| 47 | 48 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 48 | 49 | | prepared for the Great Texas Balloon Race as an expression of high |
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| 49 | 50 | | regard by the Texas House of Representatives and Senate. |
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