H.R. No. 761
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The 93rd birthday of an esteemed Texan is truly
cause for celebration, and Mary Ellen "Dude" Barton reached that
impressive milestone on January 14, 2017; and
WHEREAS, Born in 1924, Mary Ellen Barton is the youngest
child of Wilburn Burr and Ella Orr Barton, and she grew up with
eight brothers and sisters on the family farm along the North Pease
River, in the Caprock foothills of West Texas; as a young girl, she
referred to the family dog as "Doot," and from that
mispronunciation her siblings derived young Mary Ellen's lifelong
nickname, "Dude"; and
WHEREAS, A natural on horseback, Ms. Barton used to beg her
father to take her with him into the fields or on cattle drives, and
he obliged, tying her to the saddle so she wouldn't fall off; soon
she was riding on her own, working on the ranch and accompanying her
siblings to the rodeo; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Barton participated in rodeos at the Will Rogers
Coliseum as a teenager, and her experience and natural athleticism
gave her an edge over the other contestants; she was a fierce
competitor in barrel racing and in an event roughly equivalent to
musical chairs on horseback, which she won at least nine times; and
WHEREAS, Later in life, Ms. Barton helped organize the All
Girls Rodeo Association; in 1984, she was inducted into the Cowgirl
Hall of Fame in Hereford, and a large photo of her is featured at the
Cowgirl Hall of Fame in Fort Worth; and
WHEREAS, Over the course of more than nine decades, Dude
Barton has met life's challenges with grace and good humor, and she
has earned the admiration and deep affection of all who are
privileged to know her; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Mary Ellen "Dude" Barton on her
93rd birthday and extend to her sincere best wishes for continued
happiness; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Ms. Barton as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Springer
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 761 was adopted by the House on March
16, 2017, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House