H.R. No. 114 R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, On Friday, January 15, 1993, Mr. Dave Swickheimer 1-2 and Ms. Georgia Lee Swickheimer were formally honored by the Texas 1-3 Department of Agriculture for the historic contributions each 1-4 generation of their family has made to the economic and cultural 1-5 development of the State of Texas; having owned and operated their 1-6 land continuously for more than 100 years, the Swickheimers and 84 1-7 other families with similar records of achievement were recognized 1-8 in a special ceremony of the Texas Family Land Heritage program; 1-9 and 1-10 WHEREAS, Initiated in 1974, this unique program has paid 1-11 tribute to the more than 2,000 farms and ranches that, for more 1-12 than a century, have proven valuable to Texans everywhere, 1-13 providing financial prosperity and acting as a treasured cultural 1-14 point of reference; and 1-15 WHEREAS, In 1891, David Swickheimer laid claim to 6,410 acres 1-16 of land in Southeast Texas' Goliad County; here, this rugged 1-17 individual toiled beneath the hot Texas sun, raising cattle and 1-18 cultivating a special relationship with the land that would endure 1-19 in the hearts of generations to follow; and 1-20 WHEREAS, Today, on 5,000 acres of the original land, Dave 1-21 Swickheimer and Georgia Lee Swickheimer continue in the worthy 1-22 footsteps of their great-uncle, maintaining the ranch as a cow and 1-23 calf operation; and 1-24 WHEREAS, Texans, who traditionally have looked to the land 2-1 for their identity, owe a great deal to the courage and 2-2 determination of families such as the Swickheimers who worked to 2-3 carve a way of life out of the land; the timeless values of the 2-4 dedicated men and women who continue to live and work on this 2-5 state's farms and ranches are a source of pride for all and a 2-6 reminder of a legendary heritage that is often easily forgotten; 2-7 and 2-8 WHEREAS, The value of Swickheimer Ranch extends far beyond 2-9 simple financial profit; rather, its true worth is realized in the 2-10 tradition of pride instilled in the hearts of those who have, 2-11 through years of labor, formed a lasting bond with the land; now, 2-12 therefore, be it 2-13 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas 2-14 Legislature hereby honor the Swickheimer family for their many 2-15 special contributions to the spirit of the State of Texas over the 2-16 past century; and, be it further 2-17 RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared 2-18 for Mr. Dave Swickheimer and for Ms. Georgia Lee Swickheimer as an 2-19 expression of high esteem by the Texas House of Representatives. 2-20 expression of high esteem by the Texas House of Representatives. 2-21 Holzheauser 2-22 H.R. No. 114 2-23 _______________________________ 2-24 Speaker of the House 2-25 I certify that H.R. No. 114 was adopted by the House on March 2-26 11, 1993, by a non-record vote. 2-27 _______________________________ 3-1 Chief Clerk of the House