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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Family farms and ranches have long been essential to |
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the economy and culture of the Lone Star State, and the White Ranch |
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in Chambers County is indeed deserving of recognition for its |
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important role in the history of Southeast Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, The White Ranch traces its origins back to 1828, |
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when James Taylor White settled in present-day Chambers County and |
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established the first Anglo-owned cattle ranch in Texas; the |
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operation began with a stock of a dozen cattle, and over the years, |
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the herd grew to some 10,000 head; a pioneer in the cattle-raising |
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industry, Mr. White developed what would stand for many years as the |
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industry's prime business model, trailing cattle from the ranch |
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where they were raised to market; he drove his cattle along the |
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Opelousas Trail to a more lucrative market in Louisiana; and |
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WHEREAS, The ranch has been operated by the White family for |
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many generations, and its original "Crossed W" brand is the oldest |
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Texas cattle brand in continuous use; during the 1860s, James |
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Taylor White II and his brother-in-law, James Jackson, built one of |
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the first cattle fences at the ranch; today, James Taylor White's |
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great-great-great-grandson Bill White and his wife, Katherine, are |
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holding the reins, and they have continued the tradition of |
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swimming their cattle across the Intracoastal Canal each fall to |
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winter pasture on Bolivar Peninsula and then back in the spring; and |
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WHEREAS, For nearly two centuries, the White Ranch has |
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contributed to the rich heritage of Southeast Texas, and the White |
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family may take great pride in all they have done to make the ranch |
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one of the treasures of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize the White Ranch as the oldest |
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Anglo-owned cattle ranch in continuous operation in Southeast Texas |
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and extend to the members of the White family sincere best wishes |
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for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the family as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |