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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Edward "Bubba" Miller of Huntsville has been named |
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| 6 | 7 | | Mr. East Texas 2017 by the Tyler County Dogwood Festival Committee; |
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| 7 | 8 | | and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Each year, the title of Mr. East Texas is awarded to |
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| 9 | 10 | | an individual whose leadership and community spirit have helped |
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| 10 | 11 | | guide growth and progress in the region; and |
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| 11 | 12 | | WHEREAS, Bubba Miller is being recognized as this year's |
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| 12 | 13 | | honoree for his contributions through the sport of rodeo and |
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| 13 | 14 | | through his evangelical ministry; a native of Port Arthur, he began |
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| 14 | 15 | | his involvement in rodeo as a youth and went on to earn numerous |
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| 15 | 16 | | titles and distinctions while in high school, including qualifying |
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| 16 | 17 | | to compete at the state and national levels and being named a state |
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| 17 | 18 | | Reserve Champion Bareback Rider; and |
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| 18 | 19 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Miller next competed in collegiate events as a |
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| 19 | 20 | | student at Wharton County Junior College, where he was named Rookie |
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| 20 | 21 | | of the Year, took part in the College National Finals Rodeo, and was |
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| 21 | 22 | | recognized as the All-Around Champion and Most Valuable Player, |
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| 22 | 23 | | among other honors; after graduating as the top service honor |
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| 23 | 24 | | student of his class, he enrolled at Sam Houston State University |
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| 24 | 25 | | and joined the Bearkat rodeo team; his achievements at SHSU |
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| 25 | 26 | | included winning the Southern Region Bareback Champion title and |
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| 26 | 27 | | qualifying for nationals; he also completed a bachelor's degree in |
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| 27 | 28 | | vocational education at the university; and |
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| 28 | 29 | | WHEREAS, This dynamic Texan enjoyed a 12-year career as a |
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| 29 | 30 | | professional rodeo rider and additionally made his living as owner |
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| 30 | 31 | | and operator of a farrier business in Huntsville; guided by his |
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| 31 | 32 | | strong religious faith, he felt a calling to begin a church of his |
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| 32 | 33 | | own, and in 2004 he and his wife, Tammy, founded Branded for Christ |
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| 33 | 34 | | Cowboy Church; to date, the ministry has served as a source of |
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| 34 | 35 | | spiritual enrichment to thousands of people; and |
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| 35 | 36 | | WHEREAS, In 2008, Mr. Miller was tapped to serve as head |
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| 36 | 37 | | coach of the Sam Houston State University rodeo team; just three |
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| 37 | 38 | | years later, the men's rodeo team won the national championship, |
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| 38 | 39 | | and the women's team was named reserve national champions; he has |
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| 39 | 40 | | also worked with many nationally recognized students and rodeo |
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| 40 | 41 | | teams; in all his endeavors, he is blessed with the love of a fine |
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| 41 | 42 | | family, which in addition to his wife includes his two treasured |
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| 42 | 43 | | children, Bradlee and Sonilyn; and |
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| 43 | 44 | | WHEREAS, Bubba Miller's journey as a champion rodeo rider, |
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| 44 | 45 | | rodeo coach, and dedicated spiritual leader is an East Texas |
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| 45 | 46 | | success story, and he is indeed deserving of this prestigious |
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| 46 | 47 | | honor; now, therefore, be it |
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| 47 | 48 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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| 48 | 49 | | Legislature hereby congratulate Bubba Miller on being named |
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| 49 | 50 | | Mr. East Texas 2017 and extend to him sincere best wishes for the |
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| 50 | 51 | | future; and, be it further |
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| 51 | 52 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 52 | 53 | | prepared for Mr. Miller as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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| 53 | 54 | | House of Representatives. |
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