ENROLLED SENATE
CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION NO. 29	By:	Justice, Adelson, Aldridge, Anderson, Ballenger, Barrington, Bass, Bingman, Branan, Brogdon, Brown, Burrage, Coates, Coffee, Corn, Crain, Crutchfield, Easley, Eason McIntyre, Ellis, Ford, Garrison, Gumm, Halligan, Ivester, Johnson (Constance), Johnson (Mike), Jolley, Lamb, Laster, Leftwich, Lerblance, Marlatt, Mazzei, Myers, Newberry, Nichols, Paddack, Reynolds, Rice, Russell, Schulz, Sparks, Stanislawski, Sweeden, Sykes, Wilson and Wyrick of the Senate

			and

		DeWitt, Armes, Auffet, Bailey, Banz, Benge, Billy, Blackwell, Brannon, Brown, Buck, Cannaday, Carey, Christian, Collins, Coody, Cooksey, Cox, Dank, Denney, Derby, Dorman, Duncan, Enns, Faught, Fields, Glenn, Hamilton, Harrison, Hickman, Hilliard, Holland, Hoskin, Inman, Jackson, Jett, Johnson, Jones, Jordan, Joyner, Kern, Key, Kiesel, Kirby, Kouplen, Lamons, Liebmann, Luttrell, Martin (Scott), Martin (Steve), McAffrey, McCullough, McDaniel (Jeannie), McDaniel (Randy), McMullen, McNiel, McPeak, Miller, Moore, Morgan, Morrissette, Murphey, Nations, Nelson, Ortega, Osborn, Ownbey, Peters, Peterson, Pittman, Proctor, Pruett, Renegar, Reynolds, Richardson, Ritze, Roan, Rousselot, Sanders, Schwartz, Scott, Sears, Shannon, Shelton, Sherrer, Shoemake, Shumate, Smithson, Steele, Sullivan, Terrill, Thompson, Thomsen, Tibbs, Trebilcock, Walker, Watson, Wesselhoft, Williams, Wright (Harold) and Wright (John) of the House

A Concurrent Resolution requesting the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry to name their complex the "Clem Rogers McSpadden Agricultural Complex"; and directing distribution.

WHEREAS, Clem Rogers McSpadden loved life and lived it well; and

WHEREAS, Clem McSpadden, a fifth-generation rancher, was born in Bushyhead and grew up on the Will Rogers Ranch.  He owned and managed a cow-calf operation in Rogers County on land settled by his family in Indian Territory; and

WHEREAS, Clem McSpadden, a native son of Oklahoma, served his country in the United States Navy during World War II and his state in the Oklahoma State Senate as President Pro Tempore, the first in history to succeed himself.  He was elected to the United States House of Representatives where he founded the Rural Caucus, which is still in existence today, and was the first freshman in history to be appointed to the House Rules Committee; and

WHEREAS, Will Rogers, the great uncle of Clem McSpadden, said that he "never met a man he didn’t like"; it could easily be said that Clem never met a man who didn’t like him; and

WHEREAS, Clem McSpadden, a 1948 graduate from Oklahoma A&M, now known as Oklahoma State University, received the 2008 OSU Division of Agricultural Science and Natural Resources Distinguished Agricultural Alumnus Award during Fall Homecoming; and

WHEREAS, Clem McSpadden possessed a great wit and a memorable drawl which earned him recognition as the voice of professional rodeo, membership in the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame & Museum of the American Cowboy, as well as the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, and the 1998 Ben Johnson Memorial Award.  He was the first U.S. citizen to announce the Calgary Stampede; and

WHEREAS, Clem McSpadden announced over the course of six decades, was credited with saving and bringing to prominence the National Finals Rodeo.  Clem McSpadden served as President of the RCA, now the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA); was selected Announcer of the Year; and announced rodeos for more than half a century; and

WHEREAS, McSpadden’s honesty and integrity became famous at the State Capitol and led to overwhelming respect by legislators and state officials.  He was involved at the State Capitol beginning in 1954 and continuing through 2008; and

WHEREAS, Clem McSpadden was inducted in 1990 into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and was included in the book, "100 Distinguished Oklahomans", thanks to his constant service and dedication to the state as he worked to ensure the preservation of Oklahoma’s rich heritage for future generations; and

WHEREAS, Clem McSpadden was selected to receive the Chester A. Reynolds Memorial Award from the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, its highest honor.  He will be inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame this year.  The Lazy E White Hat Award was established in his name; and

WHEREAS, Clem McSpadden devoted his life to being an ambassador and an advocate for Oklahoma agriculture, both in our state and around the world.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE 1ST SESSION OF THE 52ND OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN:

THAT the Oklahoma State Legislature requests the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry to name their complex the "Clem Rogers McSpadden Agricultural Complex" in his honor.

THAT a copy of this resolution be distributed to the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry and to Clem McSpadden’s son and partner, Bart McSpadden.

Adopted by the Senate the 11th day of May, 2009.

	
Presiding Officer of the Senate

Adopted by the House of Representatives the 11th day of May, 2009.

	
Presiding Officer  of the House
	of Representatives