H.R. No. 632 R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Many proud residents of Ellis County will travel to 1-2 the Capitol on April 28, 1993, to celebrate Ellis County Day in 1-3 Austin; and 1-4 WHEREAS, This picturesque county is endowed with rich natural 1-5 resources and a colorful history; founded in 1849, the county is 1-6 named in honor of Richard Ellis, the president of the Convention of 1-7 1836 that declared Texas' independence from Mexico; and 1-8 WHEREAS, The Ellis County Courthouse, built in 1895 at a cost 1-9 of $175,000, is one of the most beautiful and unique buildings in 1-10 Texas, and in 1969 it was listed as a historical landmark by the 1-11 state; designed to be fireproof, the building is constructed of 1-12 gray and pink granite with ornately carved, Pecos red sandstone 1-13 friezes and arches above the entrances; and 1-14 WHEREAS, The courthouse is one of many historic buildings and 1-15 sites located in Ellis County that draw more than 20,000 visitors 1-16 to this area every year; Waxahachie, the county seat, is the 1-17 location of 20 percent of the Texas buildings that are listed on 1-18 the prestigious National Register of Historic Places; and 1-19 WHEREAS, Because Waxahachie has retained so much of its 1-20 turn-of-the-century architecture and small town ambience, it is an 1-21 increasingly popular location among filmmakers; several Academy 1-22 Award-winning motion pictures have been filmed here, including 1-23 Tender Mercies, Places in the Heart, The Trip to Bountiful, and the 1-24 1960s classic, Bonnie and Clyde; and 2-1 WHEREAS, Ellis County is also home to one of the most 2-2 important scientific research projects in the world today, the 2-3 Superconducting Super Collider (SSC), which has already created 2-4 more than 4,000 local jobs and has had a $1.2 billion economic 2-5 impact in North Texas; once completed, SSC technology could lead to 2-6 significant advancements in the fields of medicine, electronics, 2-7 computers, transportation, education, and the environment; and 2-8 WHEREAS, The cities of Waxahachie, Midlothian, Ennis, and Red 2-9 Oak have enjoyed further economic growth due in part to their 2-10 advantageous locations just outside the Dallas-Fort Worth 2-11 Metroplex; reasonable land costs, moderate taxes, and the 2-12 accessibility of several interstate highways have made these cities 2-13 particularly attractive to businesses expanding or relocating in 2-14 the North Texas area; and 2-15 WHEREAS, Over the years, the citizens of Ellis County have 2-16 elected some of the most respected individuals in the state to 2-17 represent them in the Texas Legislature; one of these esteemed 2-18 lawmakers, Ms. Virginia Duff, was elected in 1951 and faithfully 2-19 served her constituents for 11 years before returning to her home 2-20 in Ferris; and 2-21 WHEREAS, The House of Representatives is honored by the visit 2-22 of a delegation of Ellis County's most distinguished leaders and 2-23 elected officials, including Judge Penny Redington, commissioners 2-24 James E. Harper, Jerry Holland, Connie Doyle, and Ron Brown, 2-25 Treasurer Mark Price, and Sheriff John Gage; they are accompanied 2-26 by members of the chambers of commerce of Waxahachie, Ennis, 2-27 Midlothian, and Red Oak, who are generously hosting a luncheon in 3-1 honor of this august occasion; and 3-2 WHEREAS, Blessed with abundant commercial and natural 3-3 resources and an energetic and forward-looking population, this 3-4 unique county and its exceptional citizens have played a 3-5 significant role in Texas' development, and their many 3-6 contributions to the Lone Star State are indeed worthy of special 3-7 legislative recognition; now, therefore, be it 3-8 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas 3-9 Legislature hereby recognize April 28, 1993, as Ellis County Day at 3-10 the Capitol and join the citizens of Ellis County in paying tribute 3-11 to one of Texas' finest counties; and, be it further 3-12 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-13 prepared for the people of Ellis County as a commemoration of this 3-14 grand occasion and as an expression of high regard by the Texas 3-15 House of Representatives. 3-16 grand occasion and as an expression of high regard by the Texas 3-17 House of Representatives. 3-18 Pitts 3-19 H.R. No. 632 3-20 _______________________________ 3-21 Speaker of the House 3-22 I certify that H.R. No. 632 was adopted by the House on April 3-23 28, 1993, by a non-record vote. 3-24 _______________________________ 3-25 Chief Clerk of the House