H.R. No. 87 R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The Central Texas community of Copperas Cove is the 1-2 home of many commendable citizens who take pride in their 1-3 community's rich heritage and look toward the future with a spirit 1-4 of optimism and progress; and 1-5 WHEREAS, The area was originally inhabited by Tonkawa Indians 1-6 but, by the 1840s, the first white settlers began arriving and 1-7 settled in Ogletree Gap Valley, approximately two miles west of 1-8 where the town of Copperas Cove stands today; the natural basin, 1-9 protected by the five surrounding hills, was used primarily as a 1-10 stopover for cattle drives heading east toward the Chisholm Trail; 1-11 and 1-12 WHEREAS, In 1878, one of the town's earliest settlers, 1-13 Marsden Ogletree, built a stagecoach stop in the community, which 1-14 would eventually become the area's first post office, with 1-15 Mr. Ogletree serving as its first postmaster; and 1-16 WHEREAS, Copperas Cove was moved to its present-day location 1-17 with the coming of the Santa Fe Railroad and was named for a 1-18 "copperas-tasting" spring in the cove of a nearby mountain; and 1-19 WHEREAS, The town remained a small community until 1-20 construction began at what was then known as Camp Hood in 1942, and 1-21 since that time, Fort Hood has evolved into the largest military 1-22 installation in the free world, covering 339 square miles; the only 1-23 military post in the United States that has the capability to 1-24 support two full divisions, Fort Hood has had a beneficial 2-1 influence on its neighbor to the west and its close proximity has 2-2 given the residents of Copperas Cove a strong sense of patriotism 2-3 as well as the multicultural community for which it has become 2-4 known; and 2-5 WHEREAS, The city of Copperas Cove offers an abundance of 2-6 recreational facilities at its 88-acre park, and each April 2-7 supports the Five Hills Ride, an annual bicycle tour that has 2-8 become a favorite of cycling enthusiasts for the scenic beauty and 2-9 challenging rides it offers participants; and 2-10 WHEREAS, The area supports a number of popular festivals as 2-11 well, including Florence Friendship Days in June; Oktoberfest, the 2-12 Harker Heights Pig Fest, and the Ogletree Gap Folklife Festival in 2-13 October; the Diamond Back Jubilee in Lometa held each March; Cinco 2-14 de Mayo festivities, Rabbit Fest, and the Memorial Day weekend 2-15 Festival of Flags each May; and Sausage Fest each November; and 2-16 WHEREAS, The area also is rich in excellent educational 2-17 opportunities as the site of Central Texas College and the 2-18 University of Central Texas; and 2-19 WHEREAS, The citizens of Copperas Cove have made this 2-20 innovative and modern community a town that still takes pride in 2-21 traditional values and a high quality of life, and their 2-22 accomplishments truly merit the commendation of the Texas House of 2-23 Representatives; now, therefore, be it 2-24 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 2-25 Legislature hereby recognize Tuesday, January 31, 1995, as Copperas 2-26 Cove Day at the State Capitol, welcome the proud residents of 2-27 Copperas Cove on their visit to Austin, and commend them for their 3-1 exemplary achievement in building one of Texas' finest communities.