H.R. No. 646
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, Many proud residents of Matagorda County will travel
    1-2  to Austin on May 4, 1993, to celebrate Matagorda County Day at the
    1-3  State Capitol; and
    1-4        WHEREAS, Matagorda County's colorful history dates back to
    1-5  the early days of Texas, when the rich, fertile land between the
    1-6  Colorado and Brazos rivers was included in Moses Austin's original
    1-7  land grant in 1820; after his death, Moses' son Stephen F. Austin
    1-8  continued his father's plans of establishing a settlement in this
    1-9  beautiful region along the Gulf Coast; and
   1-10        WHEREAS, Blessed with fertile soil, ample rainfall, and a
   1-11  mild climate, Matagorda County attracted hundreds of settlers eager
   1-12  to tame this new frontier; the wide open prairies offered plenty of
   1-13  land for farming and ranching, while the hardwood forests bordering
   1-14  the region's waterways provided pioneer families with an abundant
   1-15  supply of wood for building and for fuel; and
   1-16        WHEREAS, Cotton and sugar quickly became the dominant crops,
   1-17  but in later years the county expanded its agricultural economy to
   1-18  include rice, corn, soy beans, milo, and other grains; and
   1-19        WHEREAS, Settlers flocked to this thriving new community, and
   1-20  Stephen F. Austin's vision of a prosperous and successful Texas
   1-21  settlement became a reality; beginning in 1898, the railroad system
   1-22  expanded throughout the region, bringing supplies and more settlers
   1-23  to the Gulf Coast and spurring a dynamic period of growth and
   1-24  development as enterprising individuals founded cities such as
    2-1  Palacios, Blessing, Markham, Van Vleck, and Wadsworth along the new
    2-2  rail lines; and
    2-3        WHEREAS, Since that time, a diverse economy encompassing
    2-4  petrochemicals, plastics, and oil and gas, as well as agriculture,
    2-5  has sustained the growth of this outstanding county, which
    2-6  currently boasts a population of nearly 37,000 people; despite this
    2-7  economic growth, Matagorda County has retained its charm and grace,
    2-8  and many tourists flock to this area each year to enjoy its wide
    2-9  variety of recreational activities; and
   2-10        WHEREAS, This picturesque seaside community offers numerous
   2-11  opportunities for boating, sailing, fishing, and water skiing,
   2-12  while cities such as Palacios and Bay City provide a variety of
   2-13  other entertainment options, including a golf course, museums, a
   2-14  convention center, a sports complex, and numerous points of
   2-15  historical interest; and
   2-16        WHEREAS, Throughout the year, visitors and residents alike
   2-17  are treated to a vast array of festivals and celebrations, thanks
   2-18  to the dedicated efforts of the county's many fine civic
   2-19  organizations; the Matagorda County Rodeo, Cinco de Mayo,
   2-20  Shrimporee and Blessing of the Fleet, Bayfest, the Rice Festival,
   2-21  and Market Days have become renowned throughout the Lone Star State
   2-22  for the fun and fellowship they provide, and the fine people of
   2-23  Matagorda County deserve much praise for making each of these
   2-24  events memorable and special; and
   2-25        WHEREAS, The residents of Matagorda County can take
   2-26  justifiable pride in their community's heritage and should look
   2-27  forward to the future with great anticipation; this unique county
    3-1  and its exceptional citizens have played a significant role in
    3-2  Texas' development, and their many contributions to the Lone Star
    3-3  State are truly deserving of a special legislative salute; now,
    3-4  therefore, be it
    3-5        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas
    3-6  Legislature hereby recognize May 4, 1993, as Matagorda County Day
    3-7  at the Capitol and join the citizens of Matagorda County in paying
    3-8  tribute to one of Texas' finest counties; and, be it further
    3-9        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
   3-10  prepared for the people of Matagorda County as a commemoration of
   3-11  this grand occasion and as an expression of high regard by the
   3-12  Texas House of Representatives.
   3-13  this grand occasion and as an expression of high regard by the
   3-14  Texas House of Representatives.
   3-15                                                                 Uher
   3-16                                                      H.R. No. 646
   3-17  Laney                   Giddings                 Munoz
   3-18  Alexander               Glaze                    Naishtat
   3-19  Allen                   Goodman                  Nieto
   3-20  Alonzo                  Goolsby                  Oakley
   3-21  Alvarado                Granoff                  Ogden
   3-22  Averitt                 Gray                     Oliveira
   3-23  Bailey                  Greenberg                Park
   3-24  Berlanga                Grusendorf               Parra
   3-25  Black                   Gutierrez                Patterson
   3-26  Blackwood               Haggerty                 Pitts
   3-27  Bomer                   Hamric                   Place
    4-1  Bosse                   Harris                   Price
    4-2  Brady                   Hartnett                 Puente
    4-3  Brimer                  Heflin                   Rabuck
    4-4  Cain                    Hernandez                Ramsay
    4-5  Campbell                Hightower                Rangel
    4-6  Carona                  Hilbert                  Raymond
    4-7  Carter                  Hilderbran               Rodriguez
    4-8  Chisum                  Hill                     Romo
    4-9  Clemons                 Hirschi                  Rudd
   4-10  Coleman                 Hochberg                 Sadler
   4-11  Combs                   Holzheauser              Saunders
   4-12  Conley                  Horn                     Schechter
   4-13  Cook                    Hudson                   Seidlits
   4-14  Corte                   Hunter of Taylor         Shields
   4-15  Counts                  Hunter of Nueces         Siebert
   4-16  Crabb                   Jackson                  A. Smith of Harris
   4-17  Craddick                James                    D. Smith of Harris
   4-18  Cuellar of Webb         Johnson                  Smithee
   4-19  Cuellar of Hidalgo      Jones of Lubbock         Solis
   4-20  Culberson               Jones of Dallas          Stiles
   4-21  Danburg                 Junell                   Swinford
   4-22  Davila                  Kamel                    Tallas
   4-23  Davis                   Krusee                   Talton
   4-24  De La Garza             Kubiak                   Telford
   4-25  Dear                    Kuempel                  Thompson of Tarrant
   4-26  Delco                   Lewis                    Thompson of Harris
   4-27  Delisi                  Linebarger               Turner of Coleman
    5-1  Denton                  Longoria                 Turner of Harris
    5-2  Driver                  Luna                     Uher
    5-3  Duncan                  McCall                   Van de Putte
    5-4  Dutton                  McCoulskey               Vowell
    5-5  Earley                  McDonald                 West
    5-6  Eckels                  Madden                   Williamson
    5-7  Edwards                 Marchant                 Willis
    5-8  Erickson                Martin                   Wilson
    5-9  Finnell                 Maxey                    Wolens
   5-10  Flores                  Moffat                   Yarbrough
   5-11  Gallego                 Moreno                   Yost
   5-12  Gallegos                Mowery                   Zbranek
   5-13                                                      H.R. No. 646
   5-14                                      _______________________________
   5-15                                            Speaker of the House
   5-16        I certify that H.R. No. 646 was adopted by the House on
   5-17  May 4, 1993, by a non-record vote.
   5-18                                      _______________________________
   5-19                                          Chief Clerk of the House