H.R. No. 339
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, On March 8, 1995, many proud residents of Atascosa
    1-2  County will travel to the State Capitol to celebrate their
    1-3  community's heritage and to share with fellow Texans their history,
    1-4  traditions, and achievements; and
    1-5        WHEREAS, Deriving its name from the Spanish word used to
    1-6  describe a boggy terrain and crisscrossed by numerous streams that
    1-7  feed the Atascosa River, this grassy prairie region of South Texas
    1-8  attracted successive waves of Spanish, Mexican, and Anglo-American
    1-9  settlers throughout its early history, and by the time of the Texas
   1-10  Revolution a flourishing ranching industry was well underway; and
   1-11        WHEREAS, Although the Texas Revolution temporarily disrupted
   1-12  the area's settlement, ranching activity began anew, and by the
   1-13  1850s the area was sufficiently populated that a new county was
   1-14  created from Bexar County in 1856, with a county seat at Navatasco
   1-15  on land donated by Jose Antonio Navarro; two years later a
   1-16  permanent county seat was established at Pleasanton; and
   1-17        WHEREAS, Situated astride the famous Camino Real, the region
   1-18  throughout its history has benefited from its location on major
   1-19  transportation arteries linking it with the Gulf Coast, the Rio
   1-20  Grande Valley, and Mexico, as well as other major population
   1-21  centers; and
   1-22        WHEREAS, At the height of the railroads' glory days, the
   1-23  community was served by the San Antonio, Uvalde, and Gulf Railway
   1-24  and the San Antonio Southern Railway; currently served by four key
    2-1  north-south highways that traverse the region, Atascosa County
    2-2  today is poised to reap the economic benefits of heightened
    2-3  commercial traffic between Mexico and the United States along major
    2-4  NAFTA trade routes; and
    2-5        WHEREAS, These developments hold the key to a more prosperous
    2-6  economic future for a community already enjoying the rewards of a
    2-7  healthy economy based on an abundance of natural resources; blessed
    2-8  with productive range and irrigated farm land, Atascosa County is
    2-9  renowned for its farm and ranch industry; and
   2-10        WHEREAS, Proud of its ranching heritage, Pleasanton bills
   2-11  itself as the Birthplace of the Cowboy, a designation symbolized by
   2-12  an imposing bronze statue in front of the city hall, while nearby
   2-13  Poteet stakes its claim to fame as the Strawberry Capital of the
   2-14  World with a seven-foot, 1,600-pound monument to the fruit gracing
   2-15  the lawn in front of its city hall and a gala Strawberry Festival
   2-16  each April, the fourth-largest agricultural festival in the state;
   2-17  and
   2-18        WHEREAS, Other resources such as oil and gas also play a
   2-19  pivotal role in the county's ongoing development, but the most
   2-20  important asset in developing an increasingly diverse economy is an
   2-21  industrious citizenry proud of its heritage and traditions and
   2-22  eager to meet the challenges and opportunities the future holds;
   2-23  and
   2-24        WHEREAS, For more than a century, the citizens of Atascosa
   2-25  County have contributed to Texas' economic and cultural
   2-26  development, and they are justifiably proud of their rich history,
   2-27  traditions, and record of achievement; it gives the members of this
    3-1  body great pleasure to join them on this occasion in a
    3-2  well-deserved salute; now, therefore, be it
    3-3        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
    3-4  Legislature hereby recognize March 8, 1995, as Atascosa County Day
    3-5  at the Capitol and extend warmest regards to all of the county's
    3-6  fine residents on this noteworthy occasion.