H.C.R. No. 178 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, The State of Texas traditionally has recognized a 1-2 variety of official state symbols as tangible representations of 1-3 the proud spirit and heritage of our state; and 1-4 WHEREAS, The bluebonnet, the pecan tree, the Guadalupe bass, 1-5 and the lightning whelk are examples of some natural specimens that 1-6 serve to symbolize the great diversity of the Texas landscape, 1-7 while the state dish, chili, fittingly represents another aspect of 1-8 our shared culture as Texans; and 1-9 WHEREAS, In keeping with this custom, the designation of an 1-10 Official State Mammal of Texas has been the subject of an extensive 1-11 statewide mock election participated in by hundreds of elementary 1-12 schoolchildren throughout our state; and 1-13 WHEREAS, The two front-runners in this race have been the 1-14 armadillo and the longhorn; and 1-15 WHEREAS, Once the cornerstone of the Texas cattle industry, 1-16 an estimated 10 million longhorns were herded from Texas to 1-17 midwestern and western markets during the quarter century that 1-18 followed the Civil War, providing invaluable stability to the 1-19 state's postwar economy; and 1-20 WHEREAS, The longhorn's distinctive profile commands an 1-21 immediate association with the State of Texas nationwide and is 1-22 fittingly used as a visual symbol by businesses from the Rio Grande 1-23 Valley to the Panhandle; and 2-1 WHEREAS, The other candidate for designation as Official 2-2 State Mammal, the armadillo, is a hardy, pioneering creature that 2-3 chose to begin migrating here at about the time that Texas became a 2-4 state; and 2-5 WHEREAS, The armadillo possesses many remarkable and unique 2-6 traits, some of which parallel the attributes that distinguish a 2-7 true Texan, such as a deep respect and need for the land, the 2-8 ability to change and adapt, and a fierce undying love for freedom; 2-9 and 2-10 WHEREAS, As proud and indomitable as the state from which 2-11 they hail, both the longhorn and the armadillo will serve as 2-12 fitting symbols of Texas' unique heritage; now, therefore, be it 2-13 RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-14 hereby designate the longhorn the official Large State Mammal of 2-15 Texas and the armadillo the official Small State Mammal of Texas.