1-1     By:  Kubiak (Senate Sponsor - Ogden)                 H.C.R. No. 116

 1-2           (In the Senate - Received from the House May 8, 1997;

 1-3     May 9, 1997, read first time and referred to Committee on

 1-4     Administration; May 15, 1997, reported favorably by the following

 1-5     vote:  Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 15, 1997, sent to printer.)

 1-6                         HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-7           WHEREAS, In April 1997, thousands of residents and visitors

 1-8     alike will gather in Chappell Hill for one of our state's most

 1-9     popular and colorful yearly events, the 33rd Annual Chappell Hill

1-10     Bluebonnet Festival; and

1-11           WHEREAS, A much anticipated celebration of spring, the

1-12     festival honors the spectacular bluebonnets that grace the

1-13     community of Chappell Hill each April with their seasonal display

1-14     of eye-catching blooms; and

1-15           WHEREAS, This popular event is sponsored by the Chappell Hill

1-16     Historical Society, and it began in 1964 as the Bluebonnet Antique

1-17     Show; the festival became known by its present name in 1983, and it

1-18     currently offers fun-filled activities for the entire family,

1-19     including a hayride through the community's historic district and

1-20     abundant opportunities to shop for distinctive wares and furniture

1-21     from arts, crafts, and antique vendors; and

1-22           WHEREAS, The Chappell Hill Bluebonnet Festival will provide a

1-23     time for many citizens to set aside the cares of daily life and

1-24     enjoy the flowering beauty of our Texas spring; this well-loved

1-25     event continues to be a splendid addition to our state's array of

1-26     recreational opportunities and is truly deserving of legislative

1-27     praise and support; and

1-28           WHEREAS, In 1951 the Ennis Garden Club established its first

1-29     Bluebonnet Trail of Texas, mapping certain locales in the City of

1-30     Ennis and the area surrounding the city, thus sharing its bounty of

1-31     this unique Texas wildflower; these mapped trails have grown to

1-32     encompass more than 40 miles where the thousands of visitors may be

1-33     enthralled for two consecutive weekends in April each year by the

1-34     spectacular fields of bluebonnets that grow so bountifully in the

1-35     area; the City of Ennis has gained renown for having the official

1-36     Bluebonnet Trail of Texas; an added attraction to those visiting

1-37     during the weekends of the Bluebonnet Trail is an antique show and

1-38     sale that attracts vendors from five neighboring states and

1-39     benefits the Ennis Heritage Society; now, therefore, be it

1-40           RESOLVED, That Ennis be declared the official Bluebonnet

1-41     Trail of Texas and that Ennis be designated the Bluebonnet City of

1-42     Texas because of the 46 years it has been associated with the

1-43     official wildflower of Texas and the faithful efforts of the Ennis

1-44     Garden Club in preserving our state wildflower for all to enjoy;

1-45     and, be it further

1-46           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

1-47     hereby designate the Chappell Hill Bluebonnet Festival as the

1-48     official Bluebonnet Festival of Texas and commend all those

1-49     associated with the event for their hard work in ensuring its

1-50     success.

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