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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, During the Great Texas Balloon Race held every |
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summer, the skies over Gregg County burst with vivid color as hot |
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air balloon pilots from around the country race these graceful |
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giants; and |
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WHEREAS, This topflight contest originated in 1978 as a |
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promotion to advertise the grand opening of Longview Mall; the |
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inaugural event featured 20 balloons and was organized by Dr. |
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William Bussey, a dentist and renowned hot air balloonist with 29 |
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U.S. and 14 world records, along with Longview Mall managers |
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Frankie Parson Riggins and Mary LeTourneau; in 1981, Dr. Bussey |
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pioneered another popular tradition, the balloon glow, a practice |
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now copied at celebrations the world over; the glow entails firing |
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the burners of tethered hot air balloons so that they glimmer like |
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lanterns illuminating the night; and |
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WHEREAS, Through the years, the race has changed locations to |
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accommodate the number of spectators that come to enjoy the |
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weekend's attractions, which have grown to include special shape |
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balloons, concerts, arts and crafts, and children's activities; |
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Gregg County judge Bill Stoudt was instrumental in garnering |
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support for the race from the beginning, and, in 1989, he figured |
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prominently in establishing a new fly site at the East Texas |
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Regional Airport, then known as the Gregg County Airport, where the |
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race continues to take place to this day; and |
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WHEREAS, Valued by individuals and businesses across the |
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county, the Great Texas Balloon Race is endorsed by the Cities of |
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Longview, Kilgore, and Gladewater, and each of those cities' |
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chambers of commerce and visitors bureaus; in addition, hundreds of |
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local residents volunteer, and tens of thousands of people attend |
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the race each year, bringing many visitors to East Texas and |
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significantly benefiting the region's economy; and |
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WHEREAS, Dozens of balloons will take to the skies for the |
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Great Texas Balloon Race in 2013, and because Gregg County was |
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selected by the Balloon Federation of America to host the U.S. |
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National Championships from 2012 to 2014, this year will also |
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showcase the nation's best pilots as they begin their quest for the |
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world title; and |
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WHEREAS, The race's competitions and entertainment have long |
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been a popular attraction for area residents and visitors alike, |
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and its significance was formally recognized in 1985 when the |
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legislature declared August 19-25 as Great Texas Balloon Race Week |
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and Governor Mark White honored Longview as the Balloon Capital of |
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Texas by gubernatorial proclamation; and |
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WHEREAS, For nearly four decades, skilled hot air balloon |
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pilots from the Lone Star State and beyond have joined countless |
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enthusiasts in Gregg County to celebrate the Great Texas Balloon |
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Race; this cherished tradition has brought majestic beauty, |
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thrilling competition, and valuable commerce to the area, and it is |
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indeed deserving of official recognition; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 83rd Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby commemorate the 36th anniversary of the Great Texas Balloon |
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Race and declare Gregg County the Balloon Race Capital of Texas. |