H.R. No. 226
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, The city of Corsicana is the home of many
    1-2  outstanding Texans who take justifiable pride in their city's rich
    1-3  contributions to the culture, history, and economy of our state and
    1-4  who look toward the future with a spirit of optimism and progress;
    1-5  and
    1-6        WHEREAS, Founded in the mid-1800s by early settlers, the city
    1-7  was named for the Mediterranean island of Corsica, the ancestral
    1-8  home of Jose Antonio Navarro, a hero of the Texas Revolution for
    1-9  whom Navarro County is named; the town sprang up around the
   1-10  McKinney Inn, which was established in 1849 by Hampton McKinney of
   1-11  Illinois, who operated the area's first post office from the
   1-12  structure; and
   1-13        WHEREAS, In 1894 while drilling for water, city workmen
   1-14  accidently struck Texas crude, touching off the oil boom that would
   1-15  launch a century of progress and prosperity in our state and become
   1-16  an essential chapter in the legendary saga of the Lone Star State;
   1-17  and
   1-18        WHEREAS, This important discovery led to the establishment of
   1-19  one of the state's first oil refineries in Corsicana in 1897, and
   1-20  in keeping with its reputation as a bold and innovative community,
   1-21  the city later pioneered the use of natural gas as an energy source
   1-22  for fuel and lighting and the use of crude oil for locomotive fuel;
   1-23  and
   1-24        WHEREAS, Though the city is still a leading energy producer,
    2-1  the community's more than 23,000 industrious residents have created
    2-2  a diverse economy for themselves by developing the county seat into
    2-3  a major hub for the retail and wholesale trade of agricultural
    2-4  products grown throughout the fertile Blacklands region; the city
    2-5  also offers area residents outstanding educational opportunities as
    2-6  the site of Navarro College and serves as an important commercial
    2-7  center for industry and health care services; and
    2-8        WHEREAS, Despite the abundant resources the community has to
    2-9  offer, perhaps no other product has garnered as much acclaim as has
   2-10  the famous Corsicana fruitcake, a popular Christmas delicacy that
   2-11  is shipped each year in its festive red tin to countless households
   2-12  throughout America as well as 190 foreign nations; baked by the
   2-13  local Collin Street Bakery since 1896, this yuletide favorite is
   2-14  the only fruitcake ever to have been granted the prestigious
   2-15  Culinary Merit Award by the Gourmet Society of New York; and
   2-16        WHEREAS, Corsicana's citizens take pride in their city's
   2-17  unique historical and cultural identity and have endeavored to
   2-18  preserve the community's rich heritage in the impressive Gaston C.
   2-19  Gooch Library, which contains among its extensive holdings a
   2-20  collection of some 44,000 pieces of Native American art that is
   2-21  widely considered to be one of the finest exhibits of its kind in
   2-22  the entire Southwest; and
   2-23        WHEREAS, Visitors to Corsicana also can gain a greater
   2-24  awareness of the city's colorful past with a visit to Pioneer
   2-25  Village, where they can experience a 19th century blacksmith shop,
   2-26  doctor's office, covered wagon, and stagecoach as well as other
   2-27  historic buildings that have been lovingly restored by the Navarro
    3-1  County Historical Society; and
    3-2        WHEREAS, Corsicana serves as a fisherman's paradise as well,
    3-3  offering a wealth of superb angling experiences to residents and
    3-4  tourists alike, along with ample opportunities to engage in other
    3-5  water sports in light of its proximity to the scenic shores of
    3-6  Richland-Chambers Lake and Navarro Mills Lake; and
    3-7        WHEREAS, The citizens of Corsicana have molded their
    3-8  community into an ideal place in which to work and raise a family,
    3-9  while contributing greatly to the economic and cultural development
   3-10  of our state, and it is indeed a great pleasure to join with our
   3-11  fellow Texans in saluting this fine community at this time; now,
   3-12  therefore, be it
   3-13        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
   3-14  Legislature hereby designate February 21, 1995, as Corsicana Day in
   3-15  Texas and extend an official welcome to officials and citizens of
   3-16  Corsicana visiting the Capitol on this day.