By: Kamel H.C.R. No. 40 73R3934 NBM-F CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas Legislature is proud to join the citizens 1-2 of Longview and Tyler in celebrating the two Northeast Texas 1-3 communities and paying tribute to the area's well-known scenic 1-4 charm, its rich history and traditions, and the many achievements 1-5 of its energetic and industrious populace; and 1-6 WHEREAS, Located in Gregg and Smith counties, respectively, 1-7 and nestled amid the hills, lakes, and forests of Northeast Texas, 1-8 Longview and Tyler are two of the area's most important centers for 1-9 commercial and cultural activities, and both can justly be counted 1-10 among the state's most picturesque communities; and 1-11 WHEREAS, The area's abundant natural beauty makes it a 1-12 popular destination for outdoor sports and recreation enthusiasts 1-13 from across the state, many of whom come to enjoy the excellent 1-14 opportunities for water sports available at lakes Brandy Branch, 1-15 Gladewater, and Lake O' the Pines near Longview and lakes 1-16 Palestine, Tyler, and Tyler East near Tyler; the 994-acre Tyler 1-17 State Park is a veritable sportsman's paradise offering ample 1-18 facilities for picnicking, hiking, camping, fishing, swimming, 1-19 boating, and other outdoor activities; and 1-20 WHEREAS, This abundance of natural resources has long 1-21 attracted people to this area of the state and made it a center for 1-22 human activity since prehistoric times, and the prehistoric and 1-23 historic record of human habitation and achievement is preserved 1-24 and celebrated in the many fine museums in the area; and 2-1 WHEREAS, In Longview, visitors can relive the past by 2-2 strolling through the Caddo Indian Museum, the Gregg County 2-3 Historical Museum, and the R. G. LeTourneau Museum, while visitors 2-4 to Tyler can tour such diverse sites as Camp Ford, the Carnegie 2-5 History Center, and the Goodman-LeGrand Home; visitors with an 2-6 interest in either cultural offerings or natural history exhibits 2-7 can satisfy their interests by visiting the Longview Museum and Art 2-8 Center and the Tyler Museum of Art or the popular attractions of 2-9 the Caldwell Zoo, the Hudnall Planetarium, and the World of 2-10 Wildlife Museum; and 2-11 WHEREAS, Known as the Rose Capital of the World, Tyler has 2-12 achieved renown for its elegant Tyler rosebushes and proudly 2-13 celebrates it principal claim to fame every October when it hosts 2-14 the popular Texas Rose Festival; this annual event, with its many 2-15 festivities designed to showcase the Tyler Rose, draws thousands of 2-16 visitors to Tyler each year and helps to spread the city's fame far 2-17 and wide; and 2-18 WHEREAS, For residents and visitors alike, the 22-acre 2-19 Municipal Rose Garden offers year-round opportunities to enjoy the 2-20 city's floral bounty; the largest rose showcase in the nation, this 2-21 magnificent garden features 38,000 rosebushes and nearly 500 2-22 varieties of roses, many of which reach their florescent peak 2-23 between May and November; and 2-24 WHEREAS, The two communities are noted for their fine schools 2-25 and are home to several excellent academic institutions of higher 2-26 education: LeTourneau College, Kilgore College Longview Center, 2-27 Tyler Junior College, Texas College, The University of Texas at 3-1 Tyler, and The University of Texas Health Center; and 3-2 WHEREAS, With their many natural assets, the outstanding 3-3 civic pride exemplified by the Northeast Texas citizenry, their 3-4 stature as county seats, and the excellent educational 3-5 opportunities they offer area residents, the cities of Longview and 3-6 Tyler naturally have prospered as twin hubs of activity in 3-7 Northeast Texas; and 3-8 WHEREAS, Taking great strides toward expanding its economic 3-9 and cultural horizons, the city of Tyler recently achieved an 3-10 historic accord with the Japanese city of Yachiyo, as the two newly 3-11 joined sister cities embarked on a journey of friendship and 3-12 understanding that promises to bring the international community 3-13 closer together in peace and prosperity; and 3-14 WHEREAS, The residents of the Longview and Tyler communities 3-15 are justifiably proud of their fair cities and the qualities that 3-16 make them special places in which to live, work, and play, and it 3-17 gives the members of this legislature great pleasure in joining our 3-18 fellow Texans in saluting these two model Texas communities; now, 3-19 therefore, be it 3-20 RESOLVED, That the 73rd Legislature of the State of Texas 3-21 hereby recognize February 17, 1993, as Longview-Tyler Day at the 3-22 State Capitol and extend an official welcome to the fine citizens 3-23 of those communities visiting the Capitol on this noteworthy 3-24 occasion.