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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The iconic Cafe Texan in Huntsville is reopening in |
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May 2023 as the Cafe Texan History Museum and Library; and |
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WHEREAS, In April 1936, the cafe's imminent opening was |
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front-page news in The Huntsville Item; founder Fred Morris was an |
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experienced restaurateur, and he snagged an ideal location in the |
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former United Gas Company office in the art deco Eastham Building, |
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on the downtown square across from the Walker County Courthouse; |
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for decades, the cafe was a favorite meeting place for business |
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owners, old-timers, Sam Houston State University students, and |
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others in the community; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Morris ran the Cafe Texan until 1958, and after |
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that, it passed through a number of hands; by 1996, the business was |
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flailing, but one of the regulars, U.S. Army veteran John |
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Strickland, purchased the cafe and helped turn things around; he |
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earned the loyalty of employees by paying them fairly and treating |
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them well, and many worked there for decades; in addition, he gained |
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the appreciation of the community through his support of numerous |
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worthy causes and organizations; and |
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WHEREAS, Patrons enjoyed the comfort of the familiar decor, |
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with the original counters, stools, and pressed-tin ceiling; the |
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menu remained fairly constant through the years, with chicken-fried |
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steak and pepper steak the perennial customer favorites; in later |
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years, the Texan became known for diner-style breakfasts and hearty |
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lunch specials such as fried chicken and catfish; and |
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WHEREAS, Like many other businesses, the Texan shut down at |
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the height of the COVID-19 pandemic; when Mr. Strickland began to |
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contemplate reopening, he discovered that the old place would |
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require an enormous investment to bring it up to current codes; he |
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sold the restaurant to former city council member and mayor pro tem |
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Vance Howard and his wife, Karen; the couple has renovated the |
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building extensively, turning it into a combination upscale eatery |
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and museum for their enormous collection of antiques and artifacts, |
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from pistols owned by the Emperor Napoleon and letters written by |
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President George Washington to a rare geological map of Texas; they |
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intend to run the restaurant as a nonprofit benefiting local |
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charities and scholarship programs; and |
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WHEREAS, Renowned as one of the state's oldest cafes, the |
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Cafe Texan has been a cornerstone of the Huntsville community for |
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generations, and its return is sure to gladden the hearts of |
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countless area residents; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate the Cafe Texan on its reopening and |
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extend to all those associated with this venerable establishment |
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sincere best wishes 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 cafe as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |