H.R. No. 389
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to honor
    1-2  the East Texas State Fair, an outstanding event that has become a
    1-3  cherished cultural landmark in the lives of Tyler citizens; and
    1-4        WHEREAS, Located at a thriving agricultural crossroads, the
    1-5  city of Tyler hosted many fairs in the late 1800s and early 1900s
    1-6  that were sponsored by area growers and ranchers to feature the
    1-7  region's abundant fruit, vegetables, and livestock; and
    1-8        WHEREAS, Recognizing the need for a more organized local
    1-9  fair, a group of citizens founded the East Texas Fair Association
   1-10  in 1912 and, shortly thereafter, financed the construction of
   1-11  facilities on a 75-acre tract of city parkland that became the
   1-12  permanent fairgrounds; and
   1-13        WHEREAS, Briefly interrupted by the advent of World War II,
   1-14  the East Texas State Fair resumed its regular schedule after the
   1-15  war with the help of the East Texas Agricultural Council and has
   1-16  flourished in the ensuing years under the able direction of
   1-17  managers C. R. Heaton, his successor, Bob Murdoch, and the fair's
   1-18  current manager, Alice Emmons, who have helped it evolve into an
   1-19  immensely popular six-day celebration that is renowned throughout
   1-20  the state; and
   1-21        WHEREAS, Held in late September, this lively event draws some
   1-22  100,000 visitors who come to watch as a huge variety of beef and
   1-23  dairy cattle, ponies, swine, and sheep, as well as excellent
   1-24  agricultural produce, are put on display, judged, and sold; and
    2-1        WHEREAS, This much-loved event also provides visitors and
    2-2  residents with an excellent opportunity to relax and enjoy a
    2-3  tempting array of food, arts and crafts, and local products, and
    2-4  top-notch family entertainment that includes a carnival featuring
    2-5  exciting rides and games; and
    2-6        WHEREAS, In recent years, the fair has added a new contest to
    2-7  its roster of events, the Academic Rodeo, which provides area young
    2-8  people with an opportunity to demonstrate their scholastic
    2-9  aptitude; in 1994, the fair awarded its first three scholarships to
   2-10  deserving area high school seniors and plans to award three or more
   2-11  scholarships annually in the coming years; and
   2-12        WHEREAS, For more than eight decades, the East Texas State
   2-13  Fair has offered its many participants an opportunity to enjoy the
   2-14  fruits of a bountiful harvest season and to celebrate the region's
   2-15  proud agricultural heritage; in light of its status as one of our
   2-16  state's most popular events, the fair is indeed deserving of
   2-17  special praise and recognition at this time; now, therefore, be it
   2-18        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
   2-19  Legislature hereby honor the East Texas State Fair and commend all
   2-20  who have participated in putting on this extraordinary event each
   2-21  year for their hard work in ensuring its continued success; and, be
   2-22  it further
   2-23        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
   2-24  prepared for the organizers of the East Texas State Fair as an
   2-25  expression of highest regard by the Texas House of Representatives.