HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-1           WHEREAS, Many proud residents of Chambers County will travel

 1-2     to Austin on February 12, 1997, to celebrate the premier Chambers

 1-3     County Day at the State Capitol; and

 1-4           WHEREAS, Located along the Gulf Coast between Houston and

 1-5     Beaumont, the area now known as Chambers County played a key role

 1-6     in the development of Texas; it was here that Texas colonists first

 1-7     voiced opposition to the unjust policies of the Mexican government

 1-8     and fired the first shots in one of the earliest battles of the

 1-9     Texas Revolution; in 1858, the Texas Legislature created the county

1-10     from parts of Liberty and Jefferson counties, and it was named for

1-11     prominent local politician Thomas Jefferson Chambers; and

1-12           WHEREAS, In later years, commercial irrigation canals would

1-13     bring economic prosperity to this region, as Chambers County became

1-14     a significant producer of rice, as well as soybeans and timber;

1-15     combined with a vibrant cattle ranching industry, these crops laid

1-16     the foundation for a strong agribusiness economy, and today that

1-17     economy has diversified to include seafood harvesting and

1-18     processing, petroleum processing, chemical manufacturing, and the

1-19     storage of natural gas liquids in the area's geological salt domes;

1-20     and

1-21           WHEREAS, Tourism is also a growing industry in Chambers

1-22     County, with countless travellers seeking to take advantage of the

1-23     area's rich and diverse natural resources; the Anahuac National

1-24     Wildlife Refuge has earned an international reputation as a

 2-1     birder's paradise, hosting more than 270 species of birds and

 2-2     drawing more than 70,000 visitors annually from every state in the

 2-3     nation and 36 foreign countries; in addition, the county's 295

 2-4     square miles of waterways and coastal marshes, as well as its 28

 2-5     county and city parks, attract hunting, fishing, and other outdoor

 2-6     sports enthusiasts from near and far; and

 2-7           WHEREAS, While some tourists enjoy the great outdoors, others

 2-8     prefer to hunt for bargains at Larry's Old Time Trade Days or the

 2-9     area's many antique shops, and more than 450,000 visitors each year

2-10     flock to Mont Belvieu's Houston Raceway Park, one of the finest

2-11     motor sports facilities in North America and home of the National

2-12     Hot Rod Association Slick 50 Nationals; in addition, the county

2-13     hosts such popular annual events as Mont Belvieu's Pioneer Days,

2-14     the Barbers Hill Funfest, and the Texas Rice Festival, held in the

2-15     Winnie-Stowell area; and

2-16           WHEREAS, One of the most anticipated events of the year, the

2-17     Texas Gatorfest, takes place each September in the county seat of

2-18     Anahuac, which earned the title "Alligator Capital of Texas" in

2-19     1989; the 71st Texas Legislature bestowed this honor in recognition

2-20     of the fact that alligators outnumber Anahuac's human citizens by

2-21     an astonishing margin of almost three to one; and

2-22           WHEREAS, The people of Chambers County can take justifiable

2-23     pride in their community's heritage and look forward to the future

2-24     with great anticipation; this unique county and its exceptional

2-25     citizens have played a significant role in Texas' development, and

2-26     their many contributions to the Lone Star State are indeed

2-27     deserving of special legislative recognition; now, therefore, be it

 3-1           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

 3-2     hereby recognize February 12, 1997, as Chambers County Day at the

 3-3     Capitol and join the citizens of that county in paying tribute to

 3-4     one of Texas' finest communities; and, be it further

 3-5           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

 3-6     prepared for the people of Chambers County as a commemoration of

 3-7     this grand occasion and as an expression of high regard by the

 3-8     Texas House of Representatives and Senate.

                                                                     Zbranek

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.C.R. No. 57 was adopted by the House on

         February 12, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.C.R. No. 57 was adopted by the Senate on

         February 12, 1997, by a viva-voce vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor