By: Holzheauser H.R. No. 115 73R2659 LBD-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, On Friday, January 15, 1993, Mr. and Mrs. Edwin 1-2 Chovanetz were formally honored by the Texas Department of 1-3 Agriculture for the historic contributions each generation of their 1-4 family has made to the economic and cultural development of the 1-5 State of Texas; having owned and operated their land continuously 1-6 for more than 100 years, the Chovanetzes and 84 other families with 1-7 similar records of achievement were recognized in a special 1-8 ceremony of the Texas Family Land Heritage program; and 1-9 WHEREAS, Initiated in 1974, this unique program has paid 1-10 tribute to the more than 2,000 farms and ranches that have proven 1-11 valuable to Texans everywhere for more than a century, providing 1-12 financial prosperity and acting as a treasured cultural point of 1-13 reference; and 1-14 WHEREAS, In 1890, Frank Chovanetz laid claim to 108 acres of 1-15 land in southeast Texas' Lavaca County; here this rugged individual 1-16 toiled beneath the hot Texas sun, raising Longhorns, cultivating 1-17 crops of cotton and corn, and developing a special relationship 1-18 with the land that would endure in the hearts of generations to 1-19 follow; and 1-20 WHEREAS, A barn and windmill stand today as reminders of this 1-21 founder who, with courage and determination, carved out of the land 1-22 a way of life for his family; here, on this same plot of land, 1-23 Edwin Chovanetz continues in the worthy footsteps of his 1-24 grandfather, growing coastal hay and raising cattle; and 2-1 WHEREAS, Texans, who traditionally have looked to the land 2-2 for their identity, owe a great deal to the spirit of families such 2-3 as these; the timeless values of the dedicated men and women who 2-4 continue to live and work on this state's farms and ranches are a 2-5 source of pride for all and a reminder of a legendary heritage that 2-6 is often easily forgotten; and 2-7 WHEREAS, The value of Hackberry Chovanetz Ranch extends far 2-8 beyond simple financial profit; rather, its true worth is realized 2-9 in the tradition of pride instilled in the hearts of those who 2-10 have, through years of labor, formed a lasting bond with the land; 2-11 now, therefore, be it 2-12 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas 2-13 Legislature hereby honor the Chovanetz family for its many special 2-14 contributions to the spirit of the State of Texas over the past 2-15 century; and, be it further 2-16 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-17 prepared for Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Chovanetz as an expression of high 2-18 esteem by the Texas House of Representatives.