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.