By: Seliger S.C.R. No. 7
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The life of the iconic Comanche leader Quanah Parker
spanned the transition of his people from a traditional, nomadic
way of life to their acceptance of a settled existence in the late
19th century, and his leading role in this epic story is truly
deserving of special recognition; and
WHEREAS, Known as the "Lords of the Plains" for their
outstanding horsemanship, the Comanche were roving hunters and
gatherers who dominated the Southern Plains of North America,
including large portions of Texas; individuals lived together in
small bands and were free to join another group if they so desired;
although they once roamed the plains in numbers "like the stars," by
the mid-19th century the Comanche were threatened by the United
States policy of Manifest Destiny and the eradication by Anglo
American hunters of the bison, which were both the Comanche's main
food source and the center of their spiritual life; and
WHEREAS, Born either in Texas or Oklahoma sometime between
1845 and 1852, Quanah Parker was the son of Peta Nocona, a war chief
of the Noconi band of the Comanche, and Cynthia Ann Parker, who had
been captured by the Comanche while still a child and who adopted
their way of life, spending 25 years with the tribe; after his
father was killed and his mother captured in a fight with the Texas
Rangers in 1860, Quanah took refuge with the Quahada Comanche of the
Llano Estacado region; and
WHEREAS, Quanah Parker rose to become a powerful and
influential chief among the Quahada, and for years he led the
resistance to increased Anglo expansion in the Southern Plains;
under his direction, the Comanche eluded the Fourth United States
Cavalry in 1871 and 1872, but in 1874, an alliance of Comanche and
several other tribes under his leadership was defeated during a
raid at Adobe Walls in the Texas Panhandle; a year later, Quanah
Parker and the Quahada surrendered and settled on the
Kiowa-Comanche reservation in Oklahoma, where he was appointed as
the new chief of the tribe; and
WHEREAS, Leading by persuasion and example, Quanah Parker
helped his people come to terms with their new existence; he
promoted the creation of a ranching industry by working closely
with Anglo ranchers, and as part of that effort, he negotiated a
famous deal with the legendary Texas cattleman Charles Goodnight in
1878, permitting the JA Ranch to expand while providing beef for the
Comanche; a herd of surviving bison was allowed to continue roaming
the JA rangeland, and more than a century later, this arrangement
helped lead to the creation of the official State Bison Herd of
Texas, which now resides at Caprock Canyons State Park; and
WHEREAS, Quanah Parker's influence was also felt in other
areas; he was a strong proponent of schooling for Comanche children
and served on the tribal court and as the deputy sheriff of Lawton,
Oklahoma; in time, he became a very successful rancher in his own
right, and he remained a highly respected figure among the Comanche
until his death in 1911; and
WHEREAS, During one of the greatest social and cultural
shifts in American history, Quanah Parker served the Comanche
people first as a warrior and then as a statesman, helping them
retain their identity while adapting to a different way of life, and
he stands as a pivotal figure in the history of the Lone Star State;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 86th Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby designate the second Saturday in September as Quanah Parker
Day; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of Section
391.004(d), Government Code, this designation remain in effect
until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is finally
passed by the legislature.