By: Truan S.R. No. 647 1-1 SENATE RESOLUTION 1-2 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is proud to 1-3 recognize the Ed and Hazel Richmond Public Library of Aransas Pass 1-4 on the grand occasion of its ribbon cutting and dedication ceremonies 1-5 and the "Last Great Land Lottery" on the occasion of its official 1-6 Texas Historical Marker dedication, Saturday, April 17, 1993; and 1-7 WHEREAS, The Ed and Hazel Richmond Public Library had its 1-8 beginnings in several thousand acres of land purchased in 1890 by 1-9 T. B. Wheeler and Russell Harrison as a speculative land venture 1-10 based on the government's plans to build a deep water port in the 1-11 area that is now Aransas Pass; and 1-12 WHEREAS, The deep water port was built in Corpus Christi and 1-13 the land was sold in 1909 to a partnership from San Antonio by the 1-14 name of Burton and Danforth; and 1-15 WHEREAS, A lottery which is now historically famous was held 1-16 by Burton and Danforth; potential property buyers were asked to bid 1-17 for property by names and descriptions of property drawn from boxes; 1-18 and 1-19 WHEREAS, When speculation drove land values up, bidders were 1-20 not able to pay for the land, and in 1931, a lawsuit was filed that 1-21 held that the property was to be held in trust for the people of 1-22 Aransas Pass; the money in the newly established Overbid Property 1-23 Trust was to be used to build a cotton compress, attract a railroad, 2-1 or to construct public buildings; and 2-2 WHEREAS, The library was established in 1962 from money in 2-3 the trust; in 1990, plans for significant library improvements 2-4 were made based on using $200,000 from the fund, a sum that was 2-5 supplemented by a generous donation from the Coastal Bend 2-6 Foundation; and 2-7 WHEREAS, Today, the library boasts the latest audio/visual 2-8 equipment and has been expanded from 3,000 square feet to 7,500 2-9 square feet; it was named for Ed Richmond, who was the chairman 2-10 of the Overbid Property Trust for over 50 years, and his wife, 2-11 Hazel, who served on the library board; and 2-12 WHEREAS, A beautiful edifice with a relaxed and pleasant 2-13 ambience, the library is a center of civic pride and enjoyment 2-14 and historical interest; and 2-15 WHEREAS, Members of the Overbid Property Trust, 2-16 William L. Ellis, Jr., Charles W. Marshall, Richard D. Hatch, 2-17 and John J. Bailey, as well as the Coastal Bend Foundation and 2-18 concerned citizens who took part in the founding and expansion of 2-19 the library deserve to be proud of their efforts in fostering the 2-20 growth of a magnificent asset to their city; now, therefore, be it 2-21 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-22 73rd Legislature, hereby join with the citizens of Aransas Pass 2-23 in celebrating the dedication of the Ed and Hazel Richmond Public 2-24 Library and in commemorating the "Last Great Land Lottery"; and, 2-25 be it further 3-1 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for the 3-2 library as a token of regard from the Texas Senate. 3-3 _____________________________________ 3-4 President of the Senate 3-5 I hereby certify that the 3-6 above Resolution was adopted by 3-7 the Senate on April 20, 1993. 3-8 _____________________________________ 3-9 Secretary of the Senate 3-10 _____________________________________ 3-11 Member, Texas Senate