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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Alexander Farm in Austin's Pilot Knob community |
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recently celebrated its 175th anniversary; and |
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WHEREAS, One of the oldest farms in Travis County, the |
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Alexander Farm was founded in 1847 by Daniel Alexander, a renowned |
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horse breeder and trainer; he was still enslaved at the time by the |
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McKinney family, whose members transferred just over 73 acres to |
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him through a verbal contract, which was finalized at last more than |
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three decades later; possession of the property allowed |
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Mr. Alexander and his wife, Emeline, to keep their family together |
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and build a legacy; he continued to breed and train thoroughbreds |
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and quarter horses after emancipation; and |
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WHEREAS, Daniel Alexander's son, Milton Winston Alexander, |
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expanded operations by purchasing adjacent and nearby properties; |
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his son, Milton Everett Alexander, eventually bought out other |
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heirs in order to ensure the farm's continuation under family |
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ownership; transitioning to dairy farming, he prospered as supplier |
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for six different dairy companies; he and his son, Marcellus |
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Alexander Sr., maintained a variety of livestock; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the years, the Alexanders faced the same |
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threats from gentrification and eminent domain as other |
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African-American farmers; in 1968, the Texas Department of |
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Transportation seized five acres when it rerouted U.S. Highway 183, |
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cutting off the farm's original entrance and isolating a fertile |
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section on the other side of the freeway, which abuts the family |
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cemetery; while the sixth generation of Alexanders raises beef |
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cattle, rampant development and proposed highway construction |
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present new perils; ever resolute, the family has collaborated with |
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the Hill Country Conservancy to protect the land and partnered in |
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USDA initiatives that promote resiliency; the farm has been |
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recognized by the Texas Department of Agriculture's Family Land |
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Heritage program; and |
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WHEREAS, Black-owned farms are increasingly rare in the |
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United States, and Black history has too often been erased, but |
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through their careful stewardship, the Alexander family has |
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preserved and renewed a vital heritage; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 175th anniversary of the |
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Alexander Farm and commend the members of the Alexander family for |
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their devotion to a priceless legacy; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Alexander family as an expression of high regard by |
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the Texas House of Representatives. |
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Flores |
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Thompson of Harris |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1280 was adopted by the House on May |
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6, 2023, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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