TITLE: Recognizing the late Sammie Jean "Sweet" Estes on the occasion of her induction into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame.

SUMMARY: Recognizing the late Sammie Jean "Sweet" Estes on the occasion of her induction into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to recognize the late Sammie Jean "Sweet" Estes, who has been nominated for induction into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame; and WHEREAS, Sweet Estes bought her first pony in 1935 with $2 she found and began a career in the horse rental business in Ennis, Texas, where she charged neighborhood children a nickel to ride to the corner and back and a dime to ride around the block; and WHEREAS, She kept on adding to her string of horses and continued her business through the Great Depression; in 1941, Sweet, her family, and her 15 horses moved to Denton so that Sweet and her sister could attend college at North Texas Teacher's College, now the University of North Texas; her riding stable business paid for both girls to finish college; and WHEREAS, In January of 1942, the dean of the college called Sweet to his office and proposed a riding class for physical education credit; she began teaching her fellow college students how to ride and care for horses; she also bred registered horses and sponsored Los Caballeros Riding Club at the college; and WHEREAS, Sweet leased her horses to summer camps for many years and served as riding director for many of them; in the 1970s and 1980s, she continued to send her horses to camps in the summer and took her own horse to Colorado, where she rode and camped in the Rocky Mountains and eventually found her dream home; and WHEREAS, Sweet Estes died on August 16, 1989; for more than 50 years, she introduced thousands of people to horseback riding and taught young people self-reliance and the importance of caring for the environment; she was an inspiration to women of all ages throughout her life and demonstrated that women could provide for themselves and their families; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 82nd Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the life of Sammie Jean "Sweet" Estes, who truly embodied the spirit of the West; and, be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared to honor the memory of Sweet Estes. Nelson President of the Senate I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on March 1, 2011.