By Patterson H.C.R. No. 223 75R12410 PAN-F HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, On April 30, 1997, the Legislature of the State of 1-2 Texas is pleased to join the citizens of Fannin County in a joyous 1-3 celebration of the first Fannin County Day to be held at the State 1-4 Capitol; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Located in northeast Texas along the Red River 1-6 Valley, Fannin County was the first original county created in 1837 1-7 by the Congress of the Republic of Texas from Red River County; and 1-8 WHEREAS, The county once consisted of land including all or 1-9 parts of 26 present-day counties, spanning over 350 miles; Fannin 1-10 County was reduced in size in 1846 when its western boundary was 1-11 fixed, and its remaining 906 square miles of rich top soil are 1-12 drained by the Red River and Bois d'Arc Creek; and 1-13 WHEREAS, Named for Colonel James Walker Fannin, the Texas 1-14 hero killed in the massacre at Goliad in 1836, the area attracted 1-15 its first permanent settlement that same year when several families 1-16 arrived to build their homes on the rolling prairie and were soon 1-17 followed by others who settled along the Red River; and 1-18 WHEREAS, The county seat is the city of Bonham, founded in 1-19 1836 by Judge Bailey Inglish, who originally named the settlement 1-20 Bois d'Arc after the native trees predominant in the area; the name 1-21 of the town was changed to Bonham in 1844 in honor of James B. 1-22 Bonham, famous messenger in the Battle of the Alamo; and 1-23 WHEREAS, Bonham is known for its favorite son, Sam Rayburn, 1-24 who began his political career in the Texas House of 2-1 Representatives, where he served one year as speaker; the 2-2 distinguished Texan later went to Washington, D.C., where he was a 2-3 congressman for 48 years and speaker of the U.S. House of 2-4 Representatives for 17 years, longer than any other individual in 2-5 history; and 2-6 WHEREAS, The Bonham Area Chamber of Commerce was established 2-7 in 1886 as the Board of Trade; renamed the chamber of commerce in 2-8 1926, it has been instrumental in bringing jobs and new residents 2-9 to Bonham and Fannin County, and it is the driving force for social 2-10 and economic change; now, therefore, be it 2-11 RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-12 hereby extend best wishes to the citizens of Fannin County for a 2-13 most enjoyable and successful Fannin County Day; and, be it further 2-14 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-15 prepared for Fannin County as a memento of this grand occasion and 2-16 as an expression of high regard by the Texas Legislature.