Bill Text: TX HCR35 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Designating the cowboy hat as the official State Hat of Texas.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 6)
Status: (Passed) 2015-06-17 - Signed by the Governor [HCR35 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-HCR35-Enrolled.html
| H.C.R. No. 35 | ||
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| WHEREAS, Of all the Lone Star State's unique items of | ||
| headwear that Texans have used to adorn their heads, perhaps none | ||
| says "Texan" more fashionably than the Cowboy Hat; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The heritage of the Lone Star State is closely | ||
| associated with images of cowboys and the western frontier, and | ||
| these elements are reflected in several of the current Texas | ||
| symbols, including rodeo, the official state sport, and the | ||
| longhorn, the state large mammal; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Broad-brimmed hats with high crowns can be seen | ||
| being worn by nomadic warriors like the Mongolian Horsemen as far | ||
| back as the 13th century; the hats made their way to Europe where | ||
| they were adopted by the Spaniards in the 15th and 16th centuries; | ||
| the Spaniards brought the hats to the New World where the style was | ||
| embraced by the horsemen and cattle herders of Spanish Mexico | ||
| called "vaqueros" and blended with other styles such as the | ||
| "sombrero"; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The emergence of the cowboy in the southwestern | ||
| United States in the 19th century secured the cowboy hat's place in | ||
| history; the hats varied in style and material while maintaining a | ||
| wide brim and high crown; the wide brim provided the face, neck, and | ||
| shoulders of the wearer shade from the sun and cover from the rain | ||
| while enduring the elements on a ranch or cattle drive; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The modern cowboy hat's development is credited to | ||
| John B. Stetson, who crafted a hat by hand out of felt made from | ||
| animal skins in 1865; the hat became known as the "Boss of the | ||
| Plains" and this style of hat was popularized through the late 19th | ||
| and early 20th centuries; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The cowboy hat continued to gain notoriety both for | ||
| its utility to the wearer and for its fashionable appeal; it became | ||
| common to see presidents, governors, singers and musicians, movie | ||
| stars, athletes, and the average Texan wearing a cowboy hat; the hat | ||
| even became a required item of a Department of Public Safety | ||
| Trooper's uniform and an approved part of the Texas Ranger's | ||
| uniform; and | ||
| WHEREAS, An essential piece of clothing for a cowboy on a | ||
| cattle drive, a Texas Trooper on duty, or a fashion accessory that | ||
| can be personalized by shape and material, the cowboy hat reflects | ||
| the individualism that is so much a part of the Texan identity, | ||
| elegant in its appearance while maintaining practicality in its | ||
| function; classy, yet sensible, modern and esteemed, the cowboy hat | ||
| has stood the test of time, while enduring the elements, cattle | ||
| drives, and modern fashion trends and continuing to exhibit a sense | ||
| of style and dignified appearance; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The cowboy hat symbolizes both the state's iconic | ||
| western culture and the uniqueness of its residents, and it is | ||
| indeed appropriate that this stylish and dignified apparel receive | ||
| special legislative recognition; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the 84th Legislature of the State of Texas | ||
| hereby designate the cowboy hat as the official State Hat of Texas. | ||
| Farney | ||
| Button | ||
| Springer | ||
| King of Hemphill | ||
| Sheffield | ||
| ______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
| President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
| I certify that H.C.R. No. 35 was adopted by the House on May | ||
| 8, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 141, Nays 2, 2 present, not | ||
| voting. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
| I certify that H.C.R. No. 35 was adopted by the Senate on May | ||
| 26, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Secretary of the Senate | ||
| APPROVED: __________________ | ||
| Date | ||
| __________________ | ||
| Governor | ||
