By Kamel H.C.R. No. 60 74R4127 WMS-D CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas Legislature is proud to join the citizens 1-2 of Longview and Tyler in celebrating the two Northeast Texas 1-3 communities and paying tribute to the area's well-known scenic 1-4 charm, its rich history and traditions, and the many achievements 1-5 of its energetic and industrious populace; and 1-6 WHEREAS, Located in Gregg and Smith counties, respectively, 1-7 and nestled amid the hills, lakes, and forests of Northeast Texas, 1-8 Longview and Tyler are two of the area's most important centers for 1-9 commercial and cultural activities, and both can justly be counted 1-10 among the state's most picturesque communities; and 1-11 WHEREAS, The area's lush natural beauty makes it a popular 1-12 destination for outdoor sports and recreation enthusiasts from 1-13 across the state, many of whom come to enjoy the excellent 1-14 opportunities for water sports available at lakes Brandy Branch, 1-15 Gladewater, and Lake O' the Pines near Longview and lakes 1-16 Palestine, Tyler, and Tyler East near Tyler; the 994-acre Tyler 1-17 State Park is a veritable sportsman's paradise offering ample 1-18 facilities for picnicking, hiking, camping, fishing, swimming, 1-19 boating, and other outdoor activities; and 1-20 WHEREAS, This abundance of natural resources has long 1-21 attracted people to this area of the state and made it a center for 1-22 human activity since prehistoric times, and the prehistoric and 1-23 historic record of human habitation and achievement is preserved 1-24 and celebrated in the many fine museums in the area; and 2-1 WHEREAS, In Longview, visitors can relive the past by 2-2 strolling through the Caddo Indian Museum, the Gregg County 2-3 Historical Museum, and the R. G. LeTourneau Museum, while visitors 2-4 to Tyler can tour such diverse sites as Camp Ford, the Carnegie 2-5 History Center, and the Goodman-LeGrand Home; visitors with an 2-6 interest in either cultural offerings or natural history exhibits 2-7 can satisfy their interests by visiting the Longview Museum and Art 2-8 Center and the Tyler Museum of Art or the popular attractions of 2-9 the Caldwell Zoo, the Hudnall Planetarium, the World of Wildlife 2-10 Museum, and Discovery Place; and 2-11 WHEREAS, Known as the Rose Capital of the World, Tyler has 2-12 achieved well-deserved recognition for its elegant Tyler rosebushes 2-13 and proudly celebrates its principal claim to fame every October 2-14 when it hosts the renowned Texas Rose Festival; this annual event, 2-15 with its many festivities designed to showcase the Tyler Rose, 2-16 draws thousands of visitors to Tyler each year and helps to spread 2-17 the city's fame far and wide; and 2-18 WHEREAS, For residents and visitors alike, the 22-acre 2-19 Municipal Rose Garden offers year-round opportunities to enjoy the 2-20 city's floral bounty; the largest rose showcase in the nation, this 2-21 magnificent garden features 38,000 rosebushes and nearly 500 2-22 varieties of roses, many of which reach their florescent peak 2-23 between May and November; and 2-24 WHEREAS, The two communities are noted for their fine schools 2-25 and are home to several excellent academic institutions of higher 2-26 education: LeTourneau College, Kilgore College Longview Center, 2-27 Tyler Junior College, Texas College, The University of Texas at 3-1 Tyler, and The University of Texas Health Center; and 3-2 WHEREAS, With their many natural assets, the outstanding 3-3 civic pride exemplified by the Northeast Texas citizenry, their 3-4 stature as county seats, and the excellent educational 3-5 opportunities they offer area residents, the cities of Longview and 3-6 Tyler naturally have prospered as twin hubs of activity in 3-7 Northeast Texas; and 3-8 WHEREAS, Taking great strides toward expanding its economic 3-9 and cultural horizons, the city of Tyler maintains an active and 3-10 cordial relationship with its three sister cities: Metz, France; 3-11 Yachiyo City, Japan; and Jelenia Gora, Poland, and together they 3-12 have embarked on a journey of friendship and understanding that 3-13 promises to bring the international community closer together in 3-14 peace and prosperity; and 3-15 WHEREAS, The residents of the Longview and Tyler communities 3-16 are justifiably proud of their fair cities and the qualities that 3-17 make them special places in which to live, work, and play, and it 3-18 is indeed a great pleasure to join our fellow Texans in saluting 3-19 these two model Texas communities; now, therefore, be it 3-20 RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas 3-21 hereby recognize February 28 and March 1, 1995, as Longview-Tyler 3-22 Days at the State Capitol and extend an official welcome to the 3-23 fine citizens of those communities visiting the Capitol on this 3-24 noteworthy occasion.