| 1 | 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 182 |
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| 2 | 2 | | WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to |
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| 3 | 3 | | join the Texas Game Warden Association in celebrating 125 years |
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| 4 | 4 | | of exemplary service by the state's game wardens; and |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, The position of Texas game warden traces its roots |
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| 6 | 6 | | to 1895, when the 24th Texas Legislature established the Fish and |
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| 7 | 7 | | Oyster Commission, and I. P. Kibbe was selected as its first |
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| 8 | 8 | | commissioner; he appointed numerous deputies, including William |
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| 9 | 9 | | Henry Sterling, one of the first conservation law enforcement |
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| 10 | 10 | | officers in Texas; and |
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| 11 | 11 | | WHEREAS, In 1899, the Fish and Oyster Commission was given |
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| 12 | 12 | | jurisdiction over all public waters, including freshwater |
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| 13 | 13 | | streams, lakes, and ponds; four years later, the commission's |
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| 14 | 14 | | duties were expanded to include commercial shrimping; and |
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| 15 | 15 | | WHEREAS, The agency has undergone several name changes |
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| 16 | 16 | | through the years; it has been known as the Game, Fish, and Oyster |
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| 17 | 17 | | Commission and as the Game and Fish Commission, and in 1963, the |
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| 18 | 18 | | agency was renamed the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; and |
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| 19 | 19 | | WHEREAS, In 1965, the professionals now known as Texas game |
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| 20 | 20 | | wardens were assigned the duty of promoting recreational water |
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| 21 | 21 | | safety for persons and property in all recreational waters of the |
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| 22 | 22 | | state; in 1971, game wardens were formally recognized by the 62nd |
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| 23 | 23 | | Texas Legislature as Texas peace officers who had full duties and |
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| 24 | 24 | | powers to preserve peace within the state; and |
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| 25 | 25 | | WHEREAS, Today, the more than 550 licensed Texas game |
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| 26 | 26 | | wardens are the modern-day equivalent of the deputy fish and |
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| 27 | 27 | | oyster commissioners of 1895; dedicated game wardens and their |
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| 28 | 28 | | predecessors have played a vital role in wildlife conservation |
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| 29 | 29 | | for more than a century, and it is truly fitting that they receive |
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| 30 | 30 | | special recognition; now, therefore, be it |
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| 31 | 31 | | RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 87th |
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| 32 | 32 | | Legislature, hereby honor Texas game wardens for 125 years of |
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| 33 | 33 | | service to the Lone Star State and commend them for safeguarding |
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| 34 | 34 | | the natural resources of this state for the use and enjoyment of |
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| 35 | 35 | | present and future generations of Texans; and, be it further |
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| 36 | 36 | | RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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| 37 | 37 | | the Texas Game Warden Association as an expression of esteem for |
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| 38 | 38 | | game wardens from the Texas Senate. |
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| 39 | 39 | | Perry, Springer |
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| 40 | 40 | | ________________________________ |
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| 41 | 41 | | President of the Senate |
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| 42 | 42 | | I hereby certify that the |
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| 43 | 43 | | above Resolution was adopted by |
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| 44 | 44 | | the Senate on March 23, 2021. |
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| 45 | 45 | | ________________________________ |
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| 46 | 46 | | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 47 | 47 | | ________________________________ |
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| 48 | 48 | | Member, Texas Senate |
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| 49 | 49 | | ________________________________ |
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| 50 | 50 | | Member, Texas Senate |
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