Bill Text: TX HR2159 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Commending Dr. Richardson B. Gill, Christopher Gill, Reeda Peel, and Javier Vasquez for their research on the natural history of elk in Texas.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2015-05-25 - Reported enrolled [HR2159 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-HR2159-Introduced.html
Bill Title: Commending Dr. Richardson B. Gill, Christopher Gill, Reeda Peel, and Javier Vasquez for their research on the natural history of elk in Texas.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2015-05-25 - Reported enrolled [HR2159 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-HR2159-Introduced.html
84R20956 BPG-D | ||
By: Nevárez | H.R. No. 2159 |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Richardson B. Gill, Christopher Gill, Reeda | ||
Peel, and Javier Vasquez have undertaken an important study on the | ||
natural history of elk herds in the Lone Star State; and | ||
WHEREAS, A co-owner of Circle Ranch in the Sierra Diablo | ||
mountains, Chris Gill is committed to restoring native wildlife and | ||
habitat; he wanted to examine the question of whether elk were | ||
indigenous to areas of Texas beyond the Guadalupe Mountains, and to | ||
that end, he joined forces with his brother Richardson Gill, an | ||
anthropologist, and archeologists Reeda Peel and Javier Vasquez; | ||
and | ||
WHEREAS, The team evaluated a variety of evidence, including | ||
geographic clues in the form of place names; through radiocarbon | ||
dating, they traced elk bones, antlers, and fossilized dung to the | ||
dawn of the 17th century; they delved into historical accounts, | ||
finding that the earliest documented sighting of elk in Texas | ||
occurred in 1601; in addition, they examined the visual record left | ||
by artists, who depicted elk on cave and canyon walls some 2,000 to | ||
4,000 years ago; in their report, titled "Are Elk Native to Texas?" | ||
the group detailed its findings, which document the widespread | ||
presence of elk in Texas centuries ago, from the Panhandle to the | ||
Rio Grande; and | ||
WHEREAS, Through their extensive research, these | ||
investigators have established that the majestic elk, now confined | ||
to mountain ranges in the Trans-Pecos, once ranged across much of | ||
what would become the Lone Star State; their work makes a valuable | ||
contribution to scientific knowledge and provides information that | ||
is important to the future management of this valuable species; | ||
now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas | ||
Legislature hereby commend Dr. Richardson B. Gill, Christopher | ||
Gill, Reeda Peel, and Javier Vasquez for their research on the | ||
natural history of elk in Texas and extend to them sincere | ||
appreciation for their dedication to wildlife stewardship; and, be | ||
it further | ||
RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared | ||
for the researchers as an expression of high regard by the Texas | ||
House of Representatives. |