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