H.R. No. 1251 R E S O L U T I O N WHEREAS, The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in Fort Worth is hosting The Trail of the Cowgirl from March through September 2019, an exhibit showcasing the artwork of Donna Howell-Sickles of Saint Jo; and WHEREAS, Raised on a farm near Gainesville, Ms. Howell-Sickles discovered an affinity for the image of the cowgirl during her college years, after coming across a 1935 postcard of one such woman; the artist was drawn to the iconic hopes and struggles represented by the cowgirl and began incorporating this motif into her work, using mixed media to tell timeless stories for and about women; and WHEREAS, Over the years, Ms. Howell-Sickles has exhibited her art at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, the Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale, the National Museum of Wildlife Art, and a variety of other galleries; she has also given back to her professional community through her service as president of American Women Artists; and WHEREAS, In recognition of her cowgirl series, she was inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame in 2007, and she was named one of the 40 Prominent People in the Western Art World by Southwest Art in 2011; a graduate of Lovington High School in New Mexico, she holds a bachelor of fine arts degree from Texas Tech University; and WHEREAS, Exploring universal themes by focusing on images of women from the American West, past and present, Donna Howell-Sickles has created an outstanding body of work that resonates with Texans from all walks of life, and she may indeed reflect with pride on the ways in which she has enriched the vibrant cultural landscape of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas Legislature hereby congratulate Donna Howell-Sickles on the opening of The Trail of the Cowgirl at the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame and extend to her sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Ms. Howell-Sickles as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Springer ______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1251 was adopted by the House on April 26, 2019, by a non-record vote. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House