By: Cain, Nelson S.R. No. 560
1-1 SENATE RESOLUTION
1-2 WHEREAS, The Texas Senate takes great pleasure in joining
1-3 the citizens of Ellis County in celebration of Ellis County Day
1-4 at the State Capitol on March 29, 1995; and
1-5 WHEREAS, Ellis County, with an area of 953 square miles in
1-6 North Central Texas, is bounded on the east by the blackland belt,
1-7 which extends through the center of the county and varies from a
1-8 gently rolling terrain to a level plain; and
1-9 WHEREAS, The earliest inhabitants of the county were Tonkawa
1-10 Indians; other Indian tribes also hunted the buffalo that roamed the
1-11 area; one of the first settlers was W. R. Howe, who located near the
1-12 site of Forreston in July, 1843; and
1-13 WHEREAS, At an election held in August, 1850, Waxahachie was
1-14 chosen as the county seat; the county was named for Richard Ellis;
1-15 on August 19, 1850, William Hawkins presided over the first Ellis
1-16 County Court, which on August 23, 1850, authorized the expenditure
1-17 of $59 to construct a courthouse; and
1-18 WHEREAS, Ellis County has been recognized as one of the
1-19 leading agricultural counties in the state since its first
1-20 settlement in 1843; the coming of the railroad in 1871
1-21 attracted top industries from throughout the United States;
1-22 and
1-23 WHEREAS, The City of Midlothian in the western part of Ellis
2-1 County is home to Chaparral Steel Company, TXI, Holman Texas LP,
2-2 and North Texas Cement Company, making Midlothian the Cement and
2-3 Steel Capital of Texas; and
2-4 WHEREAS, The City of Ennis in the eastern part of Ellis
2-5 County is a cultural center for Czech ancestry, and all of its
2-6 citizens are proud and industrious, making it a resourceful and
2-7 responsible community; and
2-8 WHEREAS, The Red Oak area in North Ellis County on
2-9 Interstate-35E is only minutes from downtown Dallas and the D/FW
2-10 International Airport and serves as the gateway to the Metroplex;
2-11 and
2-12 WHEREAS, Waxahachie in central Ellis County serves as the
2-13 seat of county government; it is known as the Gingerbread Capital
2-14 of America because of its hundreds of beautifully restored
2-15 Victorian homes, making it the centerpiece of rich historical
2-16 pride; and
2-17 WHEREAS, The Mahoney-Thompson Home, along with the Ellis
2-18 County Museum in Waxahachie and the Railroad Museum in Ennis,
2-19 showcases hundreds of antiques and artifacts which evoke the
2-20 history and heritage of Ellis County; and
2-21 WHEREAS, Waxahachie has one of the only remaining Chautauqua
2-22 Auditoriums; built in 1902, it brings thousands of visitors each
2-23 year to Waxahachie; and
2-24 WHEREAS, Filmmakers recognize Ellis County for its prime
2-25 movie locations; Waxahachie was noted by the Los Angeles Film
3-1 Makers Association as "The Best Little Hollywood in Texas" and
3-2 "Vintage America in Mint Condition"; and
3-3 WHEREAS, Tourists are drawn to the many events and annual
3-4 festivals in Ellis County; Ennis hosts the Texas Motorplex, the
3-5 Bluebonnet Festival, and the National Polka Festival; the
3-6 Scarborough Faire Renaissance Festival and the Gingerbread
3-7 Trail Historic Home Tour take place in Waxahachie; the historic
3-8 Larkin Newton cabin is a tourist attraction in Midlothian's
3-9 downtown area; and many fall festivals are held by communities
3-10 throughout the county; and
3-11 WHEREAS, The first school in Ellis County was organized at
3-12 Milford in 1855 by Michael Dickson, and today Ellis County hosts
3-13 Navarro College and Southwestern Assemblies of God University as
3-14 two highly regarded colleges; and
3-15 WHEREAS, Proud of their great history and heritage, the
3-16 residents of Ellis County have taken recent steps to restore many
3-17 of the historical homes and landmarks to their former grandeur;
3-18 many cities throughout the county have participated in the Texas
3-19 Main Street Project; and
3-20 WHEREAS, The Centennial of Ellis County's greatest
3-21 historical landmark, its unique redstone courthouse built
3-22 in 1895, will be celebrated in July, 1995; this event will
3-23 be marked by various celebrations and events in Ellis County
3-24 including a play denoting the history of the courthouse;
3-25 Governor George Bush has been invited to serve as Grand
4-1 Marshal of the Centennial Parade and all Texans are invited
4-2 to come and share this historic occasion; and
4-3 WHEREAS, Ellis County was chosen to be the leading edge
4-4 of America's scientific advancement with the Superconducting
4-5 Supercollider; Ellis County residents are proud to note that
4-6 although the original scope of the Collider has changed, a
4-7 current proposal would allow for a cancer therapy center to be
4-8 built on the site; this center would allow Texas to be an
4-9 international leader in state-of-the-art proton cancer therapy;
4-10 and
4-11 WHEREAS, All of the cities and communities of Ellis County are
4-12 preparing for economic development from commercial, industrial, and
4-13 residential growth due to its quality school districts, responsible
4-14 citizens, and access to the Metroplex; and
4-15 WHEREAS, The many contributions of the citizens of this
4-16 modern, energetic county are cause for great appreciation by
4-17 all Texans; now, therefore, be it
4-18 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
4-19 74th Legislature, hereby recognize March 29, 1995, as Ellis
4-20 County Day as a gesture of highest esteem and in recognition
4-21 of this remarkable county's contributions and achievements;
4-22 and, be it further
4-23 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared
4-24 for Ellis County in recognition of its celebration and as
4-25 an expression of congratulations from the Texas Senate.
5-1 ______________________________________
5-2 President of the Senate
5-3 I hereby certify that the above
5-4 Resolution was adopted by the Senate
5-5 on March 29, 1995.
5-6 ______________________________________
5-7 Secretary of the Senate
5-8 ______________________________________
5-9 Member, Texas Senate
5-10 ______________________________________
5-11 Member, Texas Senate