By:  Pitts                                             H.R. No. 632
       73R8073 SRD-F
                                  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.