H.R. No. 475
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, Since the founding of the first permanent settlement
1-2 in Hunt County more than 140 years ago, the citizens of the area
1-3 have exemplified the courageous and hardy spirit of Texas; and
1-4 WHEREAS, McQuennie Howell Wright left Gibson, Tennessee, in
1-5 1839 in a train of covered wagons bound for Texas to eventually
1-6 settle in the area now known as Hunt County; and
1-7 WHEREAS, The act of creating Hunt County named five men as
1-8 town commissioners whose duty it was to organize the County of Hunt
1-9 by the 1st Legislature at its first meeting in Austin on April 11,
1-10 1846; and
1-11 WHEREAS, This richly historical district began its long
1-12 tradition of excellence during the 1840s when Hunt County began to
1-13 see industrious growth and the establishment of Greenville as the
1-14 county seat; proprietors such as Ben Anderson, Lewis Moody, and
1-15 Hamilton and Ben Oldham began the first store in the community; and
1-16 WHEREAS, Under the direction of Judge O. M. Roberts, the
1-17 first courthouse was established under the old twin oak,
1-18 administering justice under a canopy until a more permanent
1-19 structure could be built in 1859; and
1-20 WHEREAS, Continuing its monumental growth and industrious
1-21 spirit, J. M. Porter founded The Gladiator, Hunt County's first
1-22 newspaper; others followed, with J. C. Bayne's Greenville Morning
1-23 Herald and The Banner ultimately merging to become The Greenville
2-1 Herald-Banner; and
2-2 WHEREAS, In 1852 the first church, Wesley Methodist Church,
2-3 was established and served by circuit riders; although the church
2-4 was Methodist, the building also served other denominations as well
2-5 as being the town hall, school, and courthouse; and
2-6 WHEREAS, The late 1800s brought many civic organizations to
2-7 Hunt County, such as the Odd Fellows, the Masons, the Knights of
2-8 Pythias Lodge, the Knights of Honor, Woodmen of the World, the
2-9 United Benevolent Society, the Good Templar Society, and the
2-10 Federation of Woman's Clubs; and
2-11 WHEREAS, In 1889, the growth of the region inspired the
2-12 establishment of East Texas Normal College, beginning a tradition
2-13 of graduating fine teachers; eventually the school became East
2-14 Texas State University, a major university offering over 77 fields
2-15 of study, including 15 doctoral programs; and
2-16 WHEREAS, The commerce of the region required the founding of
2-17 several banks and institutions, including the Hunt County Bank,
2-18 Hunt County's first bank, the Commercial National Bank, the Hunt
2-19 County State Bank, the Citizens Bank, and in 1910 the Greenville
2-20 Area Chamber of Commerce; and
2-21 WHEREAS, Sports have always been popular in Hunt County
2-22 dating back to 1906 when such baseball greats as Walter (Hickory)
2-23 Dickson and Monty Statton were produced in Wagner, along with
2-24 Wright Ragdale, Bob Neyland, track and field great Edgar Albowich
2-25 who reached the pinnacle of fame as a member of the 1932 Olympic
3-1 1600-meter relay team, setting a world record of 3:08.2, and
3-2 All-American football great George Maddox; most recently the
3-3 Celeste High School girls' basketball team has won the Texas state
3-4 championship two consecutive years; and
3-5 WHEREAS, Today, Hunt County boasts a population of almost
3-6 100,000 citizens and derives its principal means of income from
3-7 industries including E-Systems, Mary of Puddin' Hill, Lance
3-8 Corporation, and Rubbermaid as well as continuing its proud
3-9 tradition of farming such staples as cotton, peanuts, maize, and
3-10 cattle; and
3-11 WHEREAS, Rich in both history and tradition, Hunt County is a
3-12 prosperous, forward-looking community fully participating in the
3-13 state's dynamic growth, and it gives the members of the Texas House
3-14 of Representatives great pleasure to join our fellow citizens in
3-15 saluting Hunt County; now, therefore, be it
3-16 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas
3-17 Legislature hereby declare March 30, 1993, Hunt County Day at the
3-18 Capitol and extend best wishes to the people of Hunt County on this
3-19 noteworthy occasion.
3-20 Capitol and extend best wishes to the people of Hunt County on this
3-21 noteworthy occasion.
3-22 Oakley
3-23 H.R. No. 475
3-24 _______________________________
3-25 Speaker of the House
4-1 I certify that H.R. No. 475 was adopted by the House on March
4-2 30, 1993, by a non-record vote.
4-3 _______________________________
4-4 Chief Clerk of the House