85R34627 RMA-D
 
  By: Price H.R. No. 2712
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
         WHEREAS, Cal Farley's Boys Ranch, located in Oldham County,
  northwest of Amarillo, is celebrating its 25th anniversary as a
  coeducational institution in 2017; and
         WHEREAS, An accomplished civic leader and respected
  businessman, Cal Farley was first inspired to help children in the
  Amarillo area after noticing young boys hanging around the local
  baseball park instead of attending school; he later learned that
  many of the boys came from disadvantaged households, and he
  subsequently formed the Maverick Club and Kids, Inc., to provide
  the children with access to extracurricular activities, as well as
  food, clothing, and medical services; and
         WHEREAS, Seeking to create a permanent sanctuary for troubled
  youth in the community, Mr. Farley secured a donation of 120 acres
  of land from local rancher Julian Bivins in 1938 and began housing
  boys on the property the following year; on March 14, 1939, Boys
  Ranch received a charter from the Texas secretary of state, and two
  years later, the Boys Ranch Independent School District was
  established through legislative action; and
         WHEREAS, In 1987, Cal Farley's merged with Girlstown, USA,
  and in 1992, it welcomed girls to live on the campus; in the recent
  past, the ranch held an election exclusively for female residents
  to decide whether to change the institution's name to the Boys and
  Girls Ranch, and the girls voted to preserve the original name
  because of its historical significance; and
         WHEREAS, Today, with some 300 youths in its care, Cal
  Farley's is one of the largest organizations of its kind in the
  country and a national leader in providing child and family
  services; privately funded, it offers residential, spiritual,
  educational, and community-based services at no cost to the
  families it assists; and
         WHEREAS, Thousands of young people from across the nation
  have found hope, opportunity, and "A Shirttail to Hang Onto" at Cal
  Farley's Boys Ranch, and it is indeed fitting that the proud history
  of Cal Farley's be recognized as the ranch marks this special
  milestone; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
  Legislature hereby honor Cal Farley's Boys Ranch on the occasion of
  its 25th anniversary as a coeducational institution and extend to
  all those associated with the organization sincere best wishes for
  the future; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
  prepared for the ranch as an expression of high regard by the Texas
  House of Representatives.