By Kubiak                                            H.C.R. No. 210

         75R11986 BNL-F                           

                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-1           WHEREAS, On April 23, 1997, Washington County Day will be

 1-2     celebrated by the proud citizens of that illustrious county in

 1-3     recognition of the area's many significant contributions to the

 1-4     State of Texas; and

 1-5           WHEREAS, Located in southeast Central Texas, Washington

 1-6     County has an area of 611 square miles drained principally by the

 1-7     Brazos River, and its picturesque rolling terrain includes the

 1-8     prairie and post oak belts; and

 1-9           WHEREAS, The county was created in 1836 and organized the

1-10     following year and is renowned as the location of

1-11     Washington-on-the-Brazos, which was established in 1834 near the

1-12     location of a ferry that had been continuously operated on the

1-13     Brazos River since 1822; a "must see" for Texas history buffs,

1-14     Washington-on-the-Brazos achieved prominence during the Texas

1-15     Revolution as the site of the signing of the Texas Declaration of

1-16     Independence and the drafting of the constitution of the newly born

1-17     Republic of Texas; and

1-18           WHEREAS, Modern-day Washington County boasts a thriving

1-19     economy based primarily on manufacturing, agriculture, and

1-20     agribusiness, as well as a flourishing tourism industry; and

1-21           WHEREAS, The county seat of Brenham is home to the celebrated

1-22     Blue Bell Creameries, whose ice cream has delighted Texans for

1-23     generations, and Blinn Junior College, home of the back-to-back

1-24     National Football Championship team the Buccaneers; and

 2-1           WHEREAS, Washington County has many stellar attractions to

 2-2     offer both tourists and residents alike; Somerville Lake provides

 2-3     some of the finest hunting and fishing to be found in the state

 2-4     today, and colorful bluebonnet trails dot the highways and byways

 2-5     during the springtime; and

 2-6           WHEREAS, A number of the state's most unique and enjoyable

 2-7     festivals also take place in Washington County; the Washington

 2-8     County Fair is the oldest county fair in Texas and the town of

 2-9     Chappell Hill hosts the popular Bluebonnet Festival in the spring

2-10     and Scarecrow Festival each fall; and

2-11           WHEREAS, Other notable celebrations occurring in Washington

2-12     County include the Burton Cotton Gin Festival and Brenham's

2-13     Maifest, an annual event honoring the area's proud German heritage;

2-14     and

2-15           WHEREAS, Washington County has long been regarded as a hotbed

2-16     of athletic excellence in the sport of baseball and the exceptional

2-17     success of local players has inspired many other area athletes into

2-18     taking up the bat and glove; and

2-19           WHEREAS, Adding to the rich cultural heritage of the area are

2-20     Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park, the Texas Baptist Historical

2-21     Museum, the Star of the Republic Museum, Brenham Heritage Museum,

2-22     as well as many other notable historic sites; and

2-23           WHEREAS, Preeminent among the county's finest assets are its

2-24     friendly and hospitable citizens, who have gone to great lengths to

2-25     make this lovely region a county that they are proud to call home;

2-26     and

2-27           WHEREAS, Renowned for Blue Bell, baseball, bluebonnets, bed

 3-1     and breakfasts, and the Birthplace of Texas, Washington County is

 3-2     truly one of the state's most outstanding counties, and the efforts

 3-3     of its residents in preserving its unique beauty and heritage truly

 3-4     merit special praise and recognition; now, therefore, be it

 3-5           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

 3-6     hereby designate April 23, 1997, as Washington County Day and offer

 3-7     sincere best wishes to the county's fine citizens for a memorable

 3-8     and joyous celebration; and, be it further

 3-9           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

3-10     prepared for Washington County as a memento of this special day.