Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas House Bill HR27 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New	Differences
1	1	H.R. No. 27
2	2
3	3
4	4	R E S O L U T I O N
5	5	WHEREAS, The life of an esteemed community leader and
6	6	legendary rodeo showman drew to a close with the passing of
7	7	W. R. Watt Jr. of Fort Worth on November 9, 2022, at the age of 88;
8	8	and
9	9	WHEREAS, Born in Fort Worth on March 29, 1934, Bob Watt was
10	10	the son of W. R. Watt Sr. and the former Helen Wallace; he grew up
11	11	with the companionship of his brother, Tom, and from an early age,
12	12	he devoted considerable time to the family ranch in Throckmorton
13	13	County; after attending Arlington Heights High School and the Hill
14	14	School, he received a bachelor's degree in animal husbandry from
15	15	Oklahoma State University; he oversaw the cow-calf operation at
16	16	Watt Ranch for more than a half century, and he was a passionate
17	17	steward of the land and livestock; and
18	18	WHEREAS, Mr. Watt began working for the Fort Worth Stock Show
19	19	and Rodeo on a part-time basis in 1955, between college semesters;
20	20	elected to the board in 1958, he went on to serve for 64 years,
21	21	encompassing both a stint as secretary and a remarkable 33 years as
22	22	president; he was also very active in a number of other roles, from
23	23	assistant to the livestock and horse show managers to general
24	24	manager; upon his retirement in 2010, he was named president
25	25	emeritus; and
26	26	WHEREAS, A skilled consensus-builder and man of vision,
27	27	Mr. Watt was instrumental in the phenomenal growth of the rodeo;
28	28	during his presidency, it expanded from 10 to 23 days, drawing a
29	29	million visitors each year as Fort Worth's most-attended annual
30	30	public event; along the way, Mr. Watt helped create a national
31	31	model for public-private funding of public events facilities; he
32	32	worked with local officials to effect the transformation of the
33	33	Will Rogers Memorial Center, and in the 1980s, he oversaw
34	34	development of the Amon G. Carter Jr. Exhibits Hall and the
35	35	world-class Will Rogers Equestrian Center; in 1996, the Stock Show
36	36	celebrated its centennial with the opening of the Charlie and Kit
37	37	Moncrief Building and its W. R. Watt Arena; funded by $11 million
38	38	from Stock Show supporters, the arena was named for Mr. Watt's
39	39	father; Mr. Watt also led the effort to fund and build the ticket
40	40	office and visitor's center at the main entrance of the Will Rogers
41	41	Memorial Center; and
42	42	WHEREAS, The Will Rogers Memorial Center was pivotal in Fort
43	43	Worth's ascension as the country's premier location for livestock
44	44	and equestrian competitions; annual entries from livestock and
45	45	equestrian exhibitors eventually surpassed 30,000, and Mr. Watt
46	46	founded an International Committee and facility to welcome guests
47	47	from approximately 55 nations; his advocacy resulted in adoption of
48	48	a new official name, Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show, to
49	49	better reflect the importance of ranchers and farmers in meeting
50	50	consumer demand; other innovations during his tenure included the
51	51	Best of Mexico Celebración and the Cowboys of Color Rodeo; and
52	52	WHEREAS, Mr. Watt shared his expertise with numerous
53	53	organizations; he served as director of the Professional Rodeo
54	54	Cowboys Association, director and president of the North American
55	55	Livestock Show and Rodeo Managers Association, director and
56	56	honorary vice president of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle
57	57	Raisers Association, and director of the Texas Livestock Marketing
58	58	Association and Texas FFA Foundation; moreover, he gave extensively
59	59	of his time and talents to benefit many other charitable,
60	60	community, and professional organizations; his efforts were key in
61	61	the creation of the Citizens Support Group for the Fort Worth Police
62	62	Department Mounted Patrol, and he continued to support its
63	63	endeavors, such as the provision of horses and equipment and
64	64	construction of a state-of-the-art equine boarding and training
65	65	facility; in addition, he helped establish the Tarrant County
66	66	chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and he was a highly engaged
67	67	benefactor of the North Texas Chapter; he was a director of the Jane
68	68	and John Justin Foundation and First Methodist Church of Fort Worth
69	69	Foundation, as well as a member of the board of Harris Methodist
70	70	Hospital; and
71	71	WHEREAS, Inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame,
72	72	Mr. Watt garnered numerous accolades for his contributions to the
73	73	livestock industry and to his community, among them the People of
74	74	Vision Award, Oklahoma State University Distinguished Alumni
75	75	Award, Texas Hereford Association Outstanding Service Award, and
76	76	Longhorn Council of the Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen
77	77	Award; he and his father were joint recipients of the Charles
78	78	Goodnight Award, and in 2022, he and his family were honored with
79	79	the Bill King Award from the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo; for
80	80	all his success, he remained modest and kind; he freely expressed
81	81	his appreciation to the Stock Show staff, volunteers, and
82	82	supporters, and he was a mentor to many; and
83	83	WHEREAS, Mr. Watt enjoyed fishing, especially in the waters
84	84	off South Padre Island, and playing golf, particularly at River
85	85	Crest Country Club; above all, he cherished time spent with his
86	86	treasured family, whether pursuing their hobbies together, staying
87	87	at the ranch, or watching Stock Show rodeo performances from his box
88	88	at his beloved Will Rogers Coliseum; he shared a fulfilling
89	89	marriage with his wife, Jerri Anne Watt, and he took great pride in
90	90	his daughter, Susan, in his son, Trey, who preceded him in death,
91	91	and in his stepson, Mike; through the years, he was blessed with
92	92	seven grandchildren and a great-granddaughter; and
93	93	WHEREAS, Bob Watt made a tremendous positive impact in the
94	94	Fort Worth area and beyond, earning the lasting respect and
95	95	admiration of his fellow citizens, and although he is sadly missed
96	96	by all who were fortunate enough to know him, his achievements will
97	97	continue to resonate for years to come; now, therefore, be it
98	98	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
99	99	Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of W. R. "Bob" Watt Jr.
100	100	and extend deepest sympathy to the members of his family: to his
101	101	wife, Jerri Anne Watt; to his daughter, Susan Watt; to his stepson,
102	102	Mike McCrary, and his wife, Erica; to his brother, Tom Watt, and his
103	103	wife, Betty; to his grandchildren, W. R. Watt IV and his wife, Mary
104	104	Margaret, Callie A. Watt, Weston Wills, Walton Wills, Watt Wills,
105	105	Davis McCrary, and Sienna McCrary; to his great-granddaughter,
106	106	Georgia Watt; and to his nephews, Mike Watt and his wife, Laura, and
107	107	Rob Watt and his wife, Peggy; pallbearers for the memorial service
108	108	include: Watt Wills, Walton Wills, Weston Wills, Davis McCrary,
109	109	Billy Bob Watt, and Reese Watt; honorary pallbearers include: Bill
110	110	Anderson, Brad Barnes, Ed Bass, Matt Brockman, Jim Gay, Charlie
111	111	Geren, Charles Lasater, Mike Sands, Bob Tallman, Roy Topham, and
112	112	J. R. Williams; and, be it further
113	113	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
114	114	prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
115	115	Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Bob Watt.
116	116	Geren
117	117	______________________________
118	118	Speaker of the House
119	119	I certify that H.R. No. 27 was unanimously adopted by a rising
120	120	vote of the House on March 8, 2023.
121	121	______________________________
122	122	Chief Clerk of the House