By:  Laney                                           H.C.R. No. 155
       73R11374 PAN-D
                                 CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
    1-1        WHEREAS, This year the citizens of Hale Center will celebrate
    1-2  a significant milestone in the history of this fine Texas
    1-3  community, the 100th anniversary of its founding; and
    1-4        WHEREAS, Named for its location in Hale County, the town was
    1-5  formed from two rival communities, Hale City and Epworth, both of
    1-6  which were settled in 1891 and adjoined the present townsite of
    1-7  Hale Center; and
    1-8        WHEREAS, For two years, residents of the towns vied with each
    1-9  other for supremacy but they eventually grew tired of keeping up
   1-10  two towns and decided to unite their communities into one; Hale
   1-11  Center was platted on June 16, 1893, buildings were moved from Hale
   1-12  City and Epworth to the new town, and the post office of Hale City
   1-13  was changed to Hale Center on September 19, 1893; and
   1-14        WHEREAS, The advent of the Santa Fe Railroad brought further
   1-15  growth to the community in 1909 and it has continued to flourish
   1-16  over the years based on its rich agricultural economy; in Hale
   1-17  County, more than 400,000 irrigated acres produce cotton, grain
   1-18  sorghum, wheat, sunflowers, sugar beets, and table vegetables; and
   1-19        WHEREAS, On June 2, 1965, the town was devastated by a
   1-20  tornado that destroyed 26 businesses; with characteristic
   1-21  determination, citizens of the town pulled together and, within six
   1-22  months, had all of the enterprises back in business again; and
   1-23        WHEREAS, Today, Hale Center is home to more than 2,000 Texans
   1-24  and is the site of such popular tourist attractions as the
    2-1  beautiful Bell Park Cacti Garden and the Hale County Farm & Ranch
    2-2  Museum; and
    2-3        WHEREAS, Blessed with a fine heritage and abundant natural
    2-4  resources, Hale Center successfully combines the progressive energy
    2-5  of a thriving city with the friendliness and ease of a small town;
    2-6  truly a community in which all Texans can take great pride, it is
    2-7  indeed deserving of special legislative recognition for its
    2-8  exceptional contributions to our state; now, therefore, be it
    2-9        RESOLVED, That the 73rd Legislature of the State of Texas
   2-10  hereby honor the city of Hale Center on the momentous occasion of
   2-11  its centennial and commend its citizens for their hard work in
   2-12  building one of our state's most outstanding communities; and, be
   2-13  it further
   2-14        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
   2-15  prepared for the city of Hale Center as an expression of high
   2-16  regard by the Legislature of the State of Texas.