By:  Pitts                                             H.R. No. 631
       73R8995 SDU-D
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to honor
    1-2  Citizens National Bank of Waxahachie on the occasion of its 125th
    1-3  anniversary; and
    1-4        WHEREAS, The history of this venerable financial institution
    1-5  is inextricably entwined with that of the community it has served
    1-6  so well since July 1, 1868, when the law firm of Ferris &
    1-7  Getzendaner began to offer banking services out of a two-room
    1-8  wooden structure; and
    1-9        WHEREAS, Ellis County prospered and grew after the Civil War,
   1-10  and the bank, growing apace, played a vital part in supporting its
   1-11  growth; in 1875, two years after the bank had moved into its second
   1-12  home, a two-story stone building, work on the Waxahachie Tap
   1-13  Railroad was begun, and trains soon connected the Waxahachie
   1-14  marketplace with expanding eastern manufacturers, an event that
   1-15  especially benefited the local cotton industry; and
   1-16        WHEREAS, Largely through the bank's devoted efforts to
   1-17  promote the region's economic development, Ellis County became the
   1-18  Cotton County of the World during the 1890s; Waxahachie's
   1-19  population doubled, reaching 3,076 in 1891, the Daily Light began
   1-20  publishing, the present Ellis County Courthouse was dedicated, and
   1-21  the first Chautauqua celebration was held as a 10-day period of
   1-22  rest, religious observance, and entertainment; and
   1-23        WHEREAS, By 1921, the bank had relocated to its third home,
   1-24  the former Waxahachie National Bank building located on the
    2-1  courthouse square, and had helped many new businesses and families
    2-2  settle in Ellis County; at this time, the community's population
    2-3  had swelled to 7,956, the Waxahachie city limits covered 3.72
    2-4  miles, 13 electric street cars carried residents to and from
    2-5  bustling downtown Waxahachie, and the community's new hospital, the
    2-6  Waxahachie Sanitarium, opened its doors for the first time; and
    2-7        WHEREAS, In 1935, Citizens National Bank became the first
    2-8  "country" bank to air condition its offices; deposits doubled by
    2-9  the end of the decade, and during the post-World War II years the
   2-10  bank further expanded its services, offering Ellis County citizens
   2-11  advantages unique to small town banking and keeping considerable
   2-12  money at work in Waxahachie; and
   2-13        WHEREAS, The bank owed much of its success during the
   2-14  Depression years to the insightful direction provided by Colonel
   2-15  M. E. Singleton; his son, M. E.  Singleton, Jr., eventually
   2-16  succeeded him and guided Citizens National Bank until his death in
   2-17  1986, when George Singleton became the third generation of
   2-18  Singletons to lead the institution; the fourth generation of the
   2-19  Singleton family is currently represented by Marvin (Mark)
   2-20  Singleton III and Shannon Singleton, who are both valuable members
   2-21  of the bank's staff; and
   2-22        WHEREAS, In 1966, the bank opened its present building at Elm
   2-23  and Water Streets with a gala affair attended by no fewer than half
   2-24  of Waxahachie's citizens; and
   2-25        WHEREAS, Today this outstanding financial institution
   2-26  continues to serve the thriving Ellis County region under the
   2-27  capable guidance of its board of directors, Frank A.
    3-1  Blankenbeckler, Dorothy S. Brown, S. F. Chapman, W. H. Getzendaner,
    3-2  Miles E. Hastings, Daniel Gene O'Donnell, Rex Odom, W. A. Pearman,
    3-3  James R.  Pitts, George Singleton, Marvin (Mark) Singleton III, and
    3-4  Jeanette Singleton Cloyd; and
    3-5        WHEREAS, For 125 years, Citizens National Bank has
    3-6  contributed significantly to the economic health and unique
    3-7  character of Waxahachie and Ellis County, and its role in the
    3-8  development of this prosperous community is indeed deserving of
    3-9  special recognition and praise; now, therefore, be it
   3-10        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas
   3-11  Legislature hereby honor Citizens National Bank of Waxahachie on
   3-12  the occasion of its 125th anniversary and extend to the bank's
   3-13  directors, employees, and customers sincere best wishes for
   3-14  continued prosperity in the years to come; and, be it further
   3-15        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
   3-16  prepared for Citizens National Bank as an expression of high regard
   3-17  by the Texas House of Representatives.