Yellow Rose of Texas Award

The Commission of the Yellow Rose of Texas, commonly referred to as the Yellow Rose of Texas, is an honorary commission conferred by the Governor of Texas to Texas women for exceptional community service.
History.
Genesis.
The award was conceived and inaugurated by Governor Allan Shivers before the end of his second term in 1957. The Yellow Rose of Texas Commission is the highest award bestowed to women by the Texas Governor.
Etymology.
The award name, "Yellow Rose of Texas," was chosen by Governor Shivers to honor the woman known by that name, Emily Morgan, who as a 20-year-old slave, according to legend, was instrumental in the victory of the Battle of San Jacinto, which, reportedly lasted 18 minutes, which, in turn, sealed the fate for Texas independence.
The Texas Rose Festival in Tyler has named a Rose Queen since its inception in 1933, and historically, the title was "Miss Yellow Rose of Texas." In 1955, band leader Mitch Miller and His Orchestra recorded "The Yellow Rose of Texas" (the song) on Columbia Records, which became a hit. That same year, during a ceremony in Dallas honoring Miller as an honorary Texan, Miller announced Maymerle Shirley "(later known as" Maymerle Brown; 1936–2017) as "Miss Yellow Rose of Texas" for 1955.
Eligibility.
The Yellow Rose of Texas recognizes exceptional community service such as: volunteerism, charitable contributions, achievements related to the preservation of the history of Texas, or achievements toward improving the present and building the future.