H.R. No. 167
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
         WHEREAS, Fort Belknap holds a special place in the history of
  the Lone Star State as it marked the starting point for the
  celebrated Goodnight-Loving Trail; and
         WHEREAS, Founded by General William G. Belknap, Fort Belknap
  was established on June 24, 1851, near the Brazos River in Young
  County; it initially served as the northern anchor of a series of
  U.S. Army forts built to protect settlers on the Texas frontier;
  although the fort officially closed in September 1867, it became a
  hub of connecting roads, including the Butterfield Overland Mail
  route, a mail and passenger stage service that stretched from
  St. Louis to San Francisco; and
         WHEREAS, In 1866, former Texas Ranger Charles Goodnight and
  cattle runner Oliver Loving devised a plan to drive a herd of cattle
  from Fort Belknap along the Butterfield Overland Mail route, hoping
  to sell them to markets in New Mexico, where beef was in higher
  demand; the first Goodnight-Loving cattle drive left the fort on
  June 6, 1866, with 2,000 head of Texas longhorns, 18 cowhands, and
  the world's first chuck wagon, which was custom-built by
  Mr. Goodnight for the drive; traveling in hostile country, the
  group worked its way along the Pecos River and sold the cattle at
  Fort Sumner, New Mexico; the Goodnight-Loving Trail would
  eventually pass through Colorado and end in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and
  over the years, it grew to become one of the Southwest's most
  heavily used cattle trails; and
         WHEREAS, In 1936, the Works Progress Administration
  allocated funds for the restoration of Fort Belknap, and the state
  refurbished the buildings that still stood and rebuilt those that
  had been destroyed; the fort was designated as a National Historic
  Landmark in 1960; and
         WHEREAS, Fort Belknap serves as a poignant link to the iconic
  era of the great Western cattle drives, and it is indeed deserving
  of special recognition; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
  Legislature hereby honor Fort Belknap for its historic role as the
  starting point of the Goodnight-Loving Trail and pay tribute to all
  those who have contributed to the fort's restoration and
  preservation.
 
  Spiller
 
  ______________________________
  Speaker of the House     
 
         I certify that H.R. No. 167 was adopted by the House on March
  8, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 140, Nays 0, 2 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House