TITLE: Commemorating the 90th anniversary of Camp La Junta in Hunt.

SUMMARY: Commemorating the 90th anniversary of Camp La Junta in Hunt.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Camp La Junta in Hunt celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2018, and the occasion provides a fitting opportunity to reflect on the camp's rich history; and WHEREAS, Named for an Indian word that means "the gathering place," Camp La Junta traces its roots to 1928, when Dr. Ferdinand Walsh invited four children to spend the summer at his Hill Country home, located at the convergence of the north and south forks of the Guadalupe River; by the following year, he had built three small cabins near his house to accommodate 30 boys who spent eight weeks at the camp; in 1931, Dr. Walsh and his son, Ralph, purchased an adjacent piece of property, which remains the main grounds of Camp La Junta; and WHEREAS, During the 1940s, the camp was sold to E. C. Gandy of Corpus Christi; Luther and Tal Graham joined the staff to run the horseback riding program in 1948, and the couple purchased the camp in 1956; after their son, Larry, came home from his service in the U.S. Navy in 1969, he introduced a waterfront program and the Advanced Camper Program, and he continues to serve as director emeritus; and WHEREAS, Today, Camp La Junta benefits from the leadership of its owners, David Domingue and Blake and Cheryl Smith, and its camp directors, Scott and Katie Fineske, who oversee a wide variety of exciting activities, including horseback riding, mountain biking, shooting sports, tennis, archery, and waterborne activities such as kayaking, sailing, scuba diving, and swimming; and WHEREAS, For nine decades, Camp La Junta has provided a nurturing, challenging, and safe environment for young men to experience the outdoors, gain new skills, build character, and learn self-confidence, and it is truly deserving of special recognition; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas Legislature hereby commemorate the 90th anniversary of Camp La Junta and extend to the camp's management and staff sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the facility as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Murr Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 409 was adopted by the House on March 13, 2019, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House