S.C.R. No. 8  




SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
	WHEREAS, The Legislature of the State of Texas is pleased to 
recognize the importance of the chuck wagon to the state's history 
and culture and to designate it as the official vehicle of Texas; 
and
	WHEREAS, The chuck wagon has been important in Texas since 
the great cattle drives that lasted from the end of the Civil War to 
the mid-1880s; during that period, approximately 10 million head of 
cattle were driven along trails all the way from Texas to railheads 
in Kansas, Missouri, Wyoming, and Canada; and
	WHEREAS, During the early days of the trail drives, a cowboy 
relied for survival strictly on what he could carry with him, 
experiencing hunger and discomfort; and
	WHEREAS, In 1866, Texas rancher and Civil War veteran Charles 
Goodnight first used an army surplus Studebaker wagon on the trail 
drive; the Studebaker proved itself sturdy enough to withstand 
trail drives that could last up to five months; and
	WHEREAS, Goodnight then designed and added a chuck box and a 
boot to the rear of his wagon; this innovation became the prototype 
for all future chuck wagons; the wagon's box was used to carry the 
cowboys' bedrolls, guns, personal effects, bulk food supplies, feed 
for the horses, and other supplies; and
	WHEREAS, Today The American Chuck Wagon Association has 123 
registered chuck wagons and over 200 members; the association's 
members are committed to restoring and maintaining chuck wagons 
with their own resources, which has ensured that the chuck wagon 
will continue to function as a viable tool on many of our Texas 
ranches and add to our state's historical and cultural charm; now, 
therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the 79th Legislature of the State of Texas 
hereby acknowledge the important value of preserving the chuck 
wagon and designate the chuck wagon as the official vehicle of 
Texas; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be prepared as an 
expression of esteem from the Texas Legislature.

                                                                              





______________________________    ______________________________
President of the Senate             Speaker of the House
	I hereby certify that S.C.R. No. 8 was adopted by the Senate 
on March 30, 2005.




______________________________ 
   Secretary of the Senate             
	I hereby certify that S.C.R. No. 8 was adopted by the House 
on May 20, 2005. 




______________________________ 
   Chief Clerk of the House            



Approved:


______________________________ 
            Date



______________________________ 
          Governor