Journal of the Senate, Regular Session of the Seventy-Ninth Legislature of the State of Texas, Volume 3 Page: 2,555
2507-3760 p. ; 24 cm.View a full description of this legislative document.
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SENATE RESOLUTION 883
Senator Ellis offered the following resolution:
WHEREAS, Legendary bull rider Willie Thomas of Booth was inducted into the
Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Temple on February 14, 2004;
and
WHEREAS, A pioneer for African American cowboys across the country, Mr.
Thomas, who faced years of discrimination during the segregated 1950s with grace,
humility, and strength, was one of six inductees into the hall of fame and was
nominated for the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum's Rodeo Hall of
Fame in Oklahoma City in 2004; and
WHEREAS, Born on January 30, 1930, in Richmond, Willie Thomas was raised
on the A. P. George Ranch and eventually became a working cowboy who paid his
dues running the cattle farm with his parents, Johnny and Josephine Thomas; in 1952,
he participated in his first Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association competition in
San Antonio, and from there, he embarked on a 30-year career during which he won
25 saddles and more than 20 belt buckles, including the 1968 all-around title of the
Southwestern National Cowboy Association, rode more than 4,000 bulls, and landed
top rankings in the world; and
WHEREAS, This exceptionally talented cowboy rode with such renowned riders
as Harold Cash, Jim Shoulders, Freckles Brown, and Clyde Frost, father of Lane
Frost, a world-famous bull rider whose life story is featured in a film entitled 8
Seconds and who was president of the Southwestern National Cowboy Association;
and
WHEREAS, His accomplishments are especially impressive considering the
great obstacles placed in his way throughout his career, including racist rodeo officials
who prevented him from competing because of the color of his skin; on one occasion,
Mr. Thomas pulled his hat over his eyes, concealed his face, and won a bull riding
competition in Lake Charles, Louisiana, only to be stripped of his winnings and
escorted from town when the judges discovered he was African American; and
WHEREAS, At the age of nine, Willie Thomas had an accident at the George
Ranch that left him with a prosthetic eye; he has also broken his leg nine times and
been told twice he would never walk again; despite these setbacks, Mr. Thomas
persevered and pursued his dream to become one of the best bull riders in the history
of the sport; and
WHEREAS, With a large and loving family that includes his wife, Ora Lee, their
nine children, Sandra Pipkin, Dwight Thomas, Glen Thomas, Vicki Meriwether,
Berkley Thomas, Willie Thomas, Jr., Myron Thomas, Rodney Thomas, and Sharee
Thomas, and 25 grandchildren, Mr. Thomas worked for the Texas Department of
Transportation for many years before retiring in August of 1991; today, he hosts
popular trail rides on his farm, promoting a community spirit in Fort Bend County; in
addition to being inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame, he was
recognized by the George Ranch, which hosted a reception in his honor; andThursday, May 19, 2005
SENATE JOURNAL
2555
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Texas. Legislature. Senate. Journal of the Senate, Regular Session of the Seventy-Ninth Legislature of the State of Texas, Volume 3, legislative document, 2005; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth123809/m1/53/: accessed May 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.