H.R. No. 872
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, The residents of the city of Jasper have for more
    1-2  than 150 years committed themselves to the pursuit of excellence
    1-3  through hard work, and these outstanding Texans have made many
    1-4  important contributions to the culture and economy of their state;
    1-5  and
    1-6        WHEREAS, The county seat of one of the original 23 counties
    1-7  created by the Republic of Texas in 1836, the city of Jasper was
    1-8  named in honor of Sergeant William Jasper, a hero of the American
    1-9  Revolutionary War; and
   1-10        WHEREAS, Located amid the Piney Woods of East Texas,  Jasper
   1-11  is ideally situated near the Big Thicket National Preserve and is
   1-12  home to B. A. Steinhagen Lake, Sam Rayburn Reservoir, and Sandy
   1-13  Creek Park; and
   1-14        WHEREAS, The natural beauty and abundance of this lovely city
   1-15  have given rise to a booming tourist industry; generations of Lone
   1-16  Star residents have journeyed to this picturesque area to enjoy the
   1-17  charms of small-town Texas and to attend the city's annual Lions
   1-18  Club PRCA Rodeo, Azalea Arts and Crafts Festival, and Fall Fest;
   1-19  and
   1-20        WHEREAS, The city of Jasper has been blessed with bountiful
   1-21  natural resources that have helped it become a leading producer of
   1-22  timber and agricultural crops; in recent years, with the advent of
   1-23  horizontal drilling, the surrounding area has also become an
   1-24  important producer of oil and natural gas; and
    2-1        WHEREAS, Today Jasper stands poised on the brink of a bright
    2-2  economic future, enjoying a diverse economy based in part on retail
    2-3  sales, manufacturing, health care services, and timber processing;
    2-4  the area currently is experiencing unprecedented growth, and its
    2-5  dynamic citizens pursue economic prosperity while protecting the
    2-6  pristine environment that makes the city of Jasper an exceptional
    2-7  place in which to live and raise a family; and
    2-8        WHEREAS, Blessed with a rich heritage, abundant natural
    2-9  resources, and the friendliest folk in all of Texas, Jasper  is one
   2-10  of our state's most remarkable municipalities, and the efforts of
   2-11  its residents do indeed merit special legislative recognition and
   2-12  support; now, therefore, be it
   2-13        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
   2-14  Legislature hereby recognize May 22, 1995, as Jasper Day at the
   2-15  State Capitol and join with the citizens of Jasper in paying
   2-16  tribute to one of the Lone Star State's finest cities; and, be it
   2-17  further
   2-18        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
   2-19  prepared for the city of Jasper as a commemoration of this grand
   2-20  occasion and as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of
   2-21  Representatives.