TITLE: Honoring Gary Dunshee, founder of the Trappings of Texas Custom Cowboy Gear and Western Art Exhibit and Sale, on the occasion of the event's 25th anniversary.

SUMMARY: Honoring Gary Dunshee, founder of the Trappings of Texas Custom Cowboy Gear and Western Art Exhibit and Sale, on the occasion of the event's 25th anniversary.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The 25th annual Trappings of Texas Custom Cowboy Gear and Western Art Exhibit and Sale is taking place at the Museum of the Big Bend at Sul Ross State University in Alpine on February 25 and 26, 2011, and this occasion provides a welcome opportunity to recognize the creator and longtime curator of the event, Gary Dunshee; and WHEREAS, After attending a cowboy poetry reading in Elko, Nevada, in 1985, Gary Dunshee and Sul Ross faculty member Dr. Barbara Nelson decided to start a similar tradition in Alpine; while Dr. Nelson organized the first Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering, Mr. Dunshee, co-owner of Big Bend Saddlery, collected Western gear to display as part of the event, and his efforts gave birth to the Trappings of Texas exhibit; he went on to serve as curator of the annual show for 16 years; and WHEREAS, Trappings of Texas is the sole fund-raiser held at the Museum of the Big Bend, and a portion of the proceeds goes to support exhibits and educational programs throughout the year; the 2011 show is once again taking place in conjunction with the Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering and features more than 120 works by over 60 artists; and WHEREAS, Mr. Dunshee has owned Big Bend Saddlery since 1977 and has built award-winning saddles for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and done custom work for many celebrities; he has served as a sponsor of the Working Ranch Cowboys Association and participated in that group's World Championship Ranch Rodeo as well as the Western Heritage Classic Ranch Rodeo, the Texas Ranch Roundup, and the Tejas Vaquero Trail Ride; in addition, he has demonstrated his saddle-making skills nationwide, including at the Smithsonian Institution; and WHEREAS, This notable Texan is a former president of the Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences and Rodeo Exes Association at Sul Ross State University, and he is a financial contributor to the school and an avid recruiter for the agricultural program; and WHEREAS, In all of his endeavors, Mr. Dunshee enjoys the love and support of his wife, Hillary, and their two children, Wade and Mattie; and WHEREAS, Gary Dunshee is a skilled artist who has worked to benefit his community and to preserve and promote the traditional crafts of the American West, and he may indeed take pride in his many achievements; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas Legislature hereby honor Gary Dunshee, founder of the Trappings of Texas Custom Cowboy Gear and Western Art Exhibit and Sale, on the occasion of the event's 25th anniversary; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Mr. Dunshee as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Gallego Straus Gonzales of Williamson Morrison Aliseda Gonzalez Munoz, Jr. Allen Gooden Murphy Alonzo Guillen Naishtat Alvarado Gutierrez Nash Anchia Hamilton Oliveira Anderson of Dallas Hancock Orr Anderson of McLennan Hardcastle Otto Aycock Harless Parker Beck Harper-Brown Patrick Berman Hartnett Paxton Bohac Hernandez Luna Pena Bonnen Hilderbran Perry Branch Hochberg Phillips Brown Hopson Pickett Burkett Howard of Fort Bend Pitts Burnam Howard of Travis Price Button Huberty Quintanilla Cain Hughes Raymond Callegari Hunter Reynolds Carter Isaac Riddle Castro Jackson Ritter Chisum Johnson Rodriguez Christian Keffer Schwertner Coleman King of Parker Scott Cook King of Taylor Sheets Craddick King of Zavala Sheffield Creighton Kleinschmidt Shelton Crownover Kolkhorst Simpson Darby Kuempel Smith of Harris Davis of Dallas Landtroop Smith of Tarrant J. Davis of Harris Larson Smithee S. Davis of Harris Laubenberg Solomons Deshotel Lavender Strama Driver Legler Taylor of Collin Dukes Lewis Taylor of Galveston Dutton Lozano Thompson Eiland Lucio III Torres Eissler Lyne Truitt Elkins Madden Turner Farias Mallory Caraway Veasey Farrar Margo Villarreal Fletcher Marquez Vo Flynn Martinez Walle Frullo Martinez Fischer Weber Gallego McClendon White Garza Menendez Woolley Geren Miles Workman Giddings Miller of Comal Zedler Gonzales of Hidalgo Miller of Erath Zerwas Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 488 was adopted by the House on February 22, 2011, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House