Bill Text: TX HR210 | 2011 | 82nd Legislature 1st Special | Introduced
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: In memory of noted Western craftsman Jerry Cates of Amarillo.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2011-07-06 - Reported enrolled [HR210 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-HR210-Introduced.html
Bill Title: In memory of noted Western craftsman Jerry Cates of Amarillo.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2011-07-06 - Reported enrolled [HR210 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-HR210-Introduced.html
82S10668 MGR-D | ||
By: Smithee | H.R. No. 210 |
|
||
WHEREAS, The Lone Star State lost an accomplished native son | ||
with the passing of Western craftsman Jerry Cates of Amarillo on | ||
June 3, 2011, at the age of 72; and | ||
WHEREAS, Born on June 7, 1938, in Foard County to James and | ||
Lillian Cates, Jerry Cates grew up on his family's farm and ranch | ||
and knew at an early age that he wanted to be a cowboy; he graduated | ||
from Crowell High School and served in the United States Army from | ||
1956 to 1958 before moving to Amarillo the following year; he lived | ||
and worked on the LX Ranch for eight years and then became a brand | ||
inspector at the Amarillo Livestock Auction for the Texas and | ||
Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association as well as an apprentice | ||
gunsmith under Gene Davis; and | ||
WHEREAS, In 1969, he and his friend Bill Handley began | ||
working on bits and spurs, and Mr. Cates soon earned the | ||
appreciation of area cowboys for his mastery of ironwork and | ||
intricate engraving; influenced by renowned Western craftsman | ||
Adolph Bayers, he became more widely known after his creations were | ||
selected for inclusion in juried art shows and at rodeos and other | ||
special events; he launched his own business in 1979, using 150 | ||
different styles for spurs and 40 patterns for bits and engraving | ||
every piece by hand; and | ||
WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan received commissions from | ||
collectors worldwide, and his work has been featured in many | ||
publications, including Cowboys and Indians and Western Horseman | ||
magazines, Nordstrom's catalogs, and books on Western artistry; he | ||
was the recipient of multiple awards and will be posthumously | ||
inducted into the Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2012; and | ||
WHEREAS, Mr. Cates was a generous supporter of philanthropic | ||
efforts to help cowboys and families in crisis in the Panhandle and | ||
South Plains regions; in addition, he donated spurs to the Texas and | ||
Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and served on the Women's | ||
Protective Services annual spur auction committee; widely admired | ||
by his fellow artisans, he was treasurer of the Texas Style Bit and | ||
Spur Association, was a founding member of the Texas Spur Makers | ||
Guild, served on a nominating committee for a national bit, spur, | ||
and saddle makers' association, and was active in an apprenticeship | ||
program for spur makers; and | ||
WHEREAS, In all of his endeavors, Mr. Cates enjoyed the love | ||
and support of his wife of 50 years, Janet "Perky" Cates, with whom | ||
he had three children, Yancy, Fritzi, and Heath, as well as six | ||
grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; and | ||
WHEREAS, A skilled artist who worked to benefit his community | ||
and to promote the traditional crafts of the American West, Jerry | ||
Cates will long be remembered by all those who had the good fortune | ||
to know him; now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas | ||
Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of | ||
Jerry Cates and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his | ||
family: to his wife, Perky Cates; to his children, Yancy Crim and | ||
her husband, Marty, Fritzi Cates, and Heath Cates and his wife, | ||
Gayla; to his grandchildren, Miles, Haley, Quinton, Brittany, | ||
Megan, and Ryan; to his great-grandchildren, Bentlye and Blayklee; | ||
and to his other relatives and friends; and, be it further | ||
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of | ||
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Jerry | ||
Cates. |