H.R. No. 2712
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Cal Farley's Boys Ranch, located in Oldham County,
northwest of Amarillo, is celebrating its 25th anniversary as a
coeducational institution in 2017; and
WHEREAS, An accomplished civic leader and respected
businessman, Cal Farley was first inspired to help children in the
Amarillo area after noticing young boys hanging around the local
baseball park instead of attending school; he later learned that
many of the boys came from disadvantaged households, and he
subsequently formed the Maverick Club and Kids, Inc., to provide
the children with access to extracurricular activities, as well as
food, clothing, and medical services; and
WHEREAS, Seeking to create a permanent sanctuary for troubled
youth in the community, Mr. Farley secured a donation of 120 acres
of land from local rancher Julian Bivins in 1938 and began housing
boys on the property the following year; on March 14, 1939, Boys
Ranch received a charter from the Texas secretary of state, and two
years later, the Boys Ranch Independent School District was
established through legislative action; and
WHEREAS, In 1987, Cal Farley's merged with Girlstown, USA,
and in 1992, it welcomed girls to live on the campus; in the recent
past, the ranch held an election exclusively for female residents
to decide whether to change the institution's name to the Boys and
Girls Ranch, and the girls voted to preserve the original name
because of its historical significance; and
WHEREAS, Today, with some 300 youths in its care, Cal
Farley's is one of the largest organizations of its kind in the
country and a national leader in providing child and family
services; privately funded, it offers residential, spiritual,
educational, and community-based services at no cost to the
families it assists; and
WHEREAS, Thousands of young people from across the nation
have found hope, opportunity, and "A Shirttail to Hang Onto" at Cal
Farley's Boys Ranch, and it is indeed fitting that the proud history
of Cal Farley's be recognized as the ranch marks this special
milestone; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
Legislature hereby honor Cal Farley's Boys Ranch on the occasion of
its 25th anniversary as a coeducational institution and extend to
all those associated with the organization sincere best wishes for
the future; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the ranch as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Price
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 2712 was adopted by the House on May
29, 2017, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House