By Patterson                                    H.C.R. No. 91

      75R6665 BNL-D                           

                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-1           WHEREAS, The Texas Legislature is proud to join the citizens

 1-2     of Paris, Texas, in joyous celebration of Paris-Lamar County Day at

 1-3     the Capitol on February 19, 1997; and

 1-4           WHEREAS, Located in the heart of the Red River Valley, Paris

 1-5     was founded in 1839 on the divide between the Red and Sulphur

 1-6     rivers and became the Lamar County seat five years later; the

 1-7     area's rich blackland soil soon gave rise to a thriving ranching

 1-8     and agricultural industry, with soybeans, wheat, cotton, corn, and

 1-9     sorghum comprising some of the major crops; and

1-10           WHEREAS, The coming of the railroad caused the county seat of

1-11     Paris to grow in importance and population during the mid-1800s,

1-12     and the town continues to play a major role in our state's economic

1-13     vitality as the trade, medical, education, and industrial center of

1-14     Northeast Texas; and

1-15           WHEREAS, Today, the county's agricultural economy has

1-16     expanded to include a solid industrial base; the community is now

1-17     home to five major Fortune 500 manufacturers, and more than 20

1-18     percent of its labor force is employed in the manufacturing sector;

1-19     and

1-20           WHEREAS, Paris is also the home of two renowned health care

1-21     facilities, St. Joseph's Hospital and McCuistion Regional Medical

1-22     Center, which serve Northeast Texas and a large portion of

1-23     Southeastern Oklahoma as well; and

1-24           WHEREAS, The community is justifiably proud of its fine

 2-1     educational facilities; Paris Junior College addresses the higher

 2-2     education needs of the area and has expanded its campuses to

 2-3     nearby Sulphur Springs and Greenville, and Lamar County also takes

 2-4     immense pride in its five outstanding public school systems; and

 2-5           WHEREAS, Paris draws many visitors who come to enjoy its vast

 2-6     array of natural and cultural resources; the second-largest Paris

 2-7     in the world, the city has benefited from the rich European culture

 2-8     of its namesake as seen in the lovely Culbertson Fountain in the

 2-9     heart of downtown; and

2-10           WHEREAS, Lakes Crook and Pat Mayse offer sports enthusiasts a

2-11     wide variety of recreational opportunities, while the community's

2-12     Sam Bell Maxey State Historic Structure and its many other historic

2-13     sites impart a sense of the town's vibrant heritage; and

2-14           WHEREAS, Rich in culture and tradition, Paris is a

2-15     prosperous, forward-looking community and a leading participant in

2-16     the state's dynamic growth, and it gives the Texas Legislature

2-17     great pleasure to join with our fellow citizens in saluting this

2-18     fine Texas community; now, therefore, be it

2-19           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

2-20     hereby designate February 19, 1997, as Paris-Lamar County Day at

2-21     the Capitol and extend best wishes to all of the community's

2-22     residents on this noteworthy occasion.