TITLE: Congratulating Weldon Burgoon of Weldon's Saddle Shop and Western Wear in Denton on his retirement after 60 years in business.

SUMMARY: Congratulating Weldon Burgoon of Weldon's Saddle Shop and Western Wear in Denton on his retirement after 60 years in business.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Weldon Burgoon shuttered Weldon's Saddle Shop and Western Wear in Denton in January 2017, drawing to a close a remarkable career as a master craftsman that spanned six decades; and WHEREAS, After graduating from high school in 1947, Mr. Burgoon went to work in his father's plumbing business; as a sideline, his mother sewed Western-style shirts and sold them in the family's shop, and in the evenings, Mr. Burgoon began to work with leather and make belts; and WHEREAS, In 1957, Mr. Burgoon bought a sewing machine and opened Weldon's Saddle Shop and Western Wear in downtown Denton; there, he created custom leather goods, including more than 150 saddles, while also selling a wide variety of Western wear and accessories, such as boots, hats, jeans, belts and buckles, Western books and gift items, Breyer model horses, and rodeo equipment; and WHEREAS, Mr. Burgoon was inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2010, and his shop won designation as a Denton County Heritage Business in 2016 from the Denton County Office of History and Culture; his grandson, Clint Wilkinson, who got his start in the shop, has since opened his own luxury leather store next door, carrying on the family trade; and WHEREAS, Texas has a strong tradition of innovation and entrepreneurship, and over the course of 60 years, Weldon Burgoon's dedication, artistry, and craftsmanship earned Weldon's Saddle Shop and Western Wear the status of a treasured community institution; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas Legislature hereby congratulate Weldon Burgoon on his retirement and extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Mr. Burgoon as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Stucky Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1864 was adopted by the House on May 12, 2017, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House