HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-1           WHEREAS, One of the Lone Star State's greatest assets is the

 1-2     depth and diversity of the cultures that comprise our common

 1-3     heritage, and among the most influential contributors to the

 1-4     state's history are Texans of Czech descent; and

 1-5           WHEREAS, Czech immigration to Texas reached its peak during

 1-6     the mid-19th century, when thousands of families left Bohemia,

 1-7     Moravia, and Silesia to seek their freedom and improve their

 1-8     livelihood in the New World; settling across Central Texas, these

 1-9     hardy individuals survived, flourished, and progressed from pioneer

1-10     privation to representation in the fields of literature, science,

1-11     art, law, and politics, and left an enduring agrarian heritage in

1-12     their adopted home, and the Czech language is still widely spoken

1-13     in numerous areas of the state; and

1-14           WHEREAS, The vibrant Czech traditions that shaped the state

1-15     have continued to endure, handed down from generation to

1-16     generation, and to ensure the preservation of this priceless

1-17     legacy, a number of public-spirited citizens have committed

1-18     themselves to the creation of the Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural

1-19     Center, to be located in La Grange; and

1-20           WHEREAS, Widely known as the "Cradle of Czech Immigration,"

1-21     Fayette County is an appropriate site for the center, which will

1-22     celebrate and promote the unique contributions of Czechs to Texas

1-23     through displays of authentic artifacts and printed material,

1-24     genealogical information, and a living history area; and

 2-1           WHEREAS, Intended not only as a repository of historical

 2-2     material, but also as a vital and valued resource within the

 2-3     community, the center's projected facilities will include a

 2-4     library, exhibit hall, auditorium, amphitheater, and archives; with

 2-5     so much to offer, the facility will undoubtedly serve as a popular

 2-6     gathering place for citizens of Czech descent from across the

 2-7     state, as well as a stirring permanent tribute to the many

 2-8     contributions of the Czech community; and

 2-9           WHEREAS, The recent reemergence of the Czech Republic as a

2-10     free democratic nation has reaffirmed the longstanding pride that

2-11     the more than 1,000,000 Texans of Czech heritage take in their

2-12     roots, and the Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center will stand

2-13     as a fitting expression of this proud legacy; now, therefore, be it

2-14           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

2-15     hereby recognize all those associated with the Texas Czech Heritage

2-16     and Cultural Center and extend to them sincere best wishes for

2-17     every success in the years to come; and, be it further

2-18           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-19     prepared for display in the Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural

2-20     Center as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of

2-21     Representatives and Senate.

                                                                        Uher

         Laney                   Gutierrez                Oliveira

         Alexander               Haggerty                 Olivo

         Allen                   Hamric                   Palmer

         Alvarado                Hartnett                 Patterson

         Averitt                 Hawley                   Pickett

         Bailey                  Heflin                   Pitts

         Berlanga                Hernandez                Place

         Bonnen                  Hightower                Price

         Bosse                   Hilbert                  Puente

         Brimer                  Hilderbran               Rabuck

         Burnam                  Hill                     Ramsay

         Carter                  Hinojosa                 Rangel

         Chavez                  Hirschi                  Raymond

         Chisum                  Hochberg                 Reyna of Bexar

         Christian               Hodge                    Reyna of Dallas

         Clark                   Holzheauser              Rhodes

         Coleman                 Horn                     Rodriguez

         Cook                    Howard                   Roman

         Corte                   Hunter                   Sadler

         Counts                  Hupp                     Seaman

         Crabb                   Isett                    Serna

         Craddick                Jackson                  Shields

         Cuellar                 Janek                    Siebert

         Culberson               Jones of Lubbock         Smith

         Danburg                 Jones of Dallas          Smithee

         Davila                  Junell                   Solis

         Davis                   Kamel                    Solomons

         Delisi                  Keel                     Staples

         Denny                   Keffer                   Stiles

         Driver                  King                     Swinford

         Dukes                   Krusee                   Talton

         Dunnam                  Kubiak                   Telford

         Dutton                  Kuempel                  Thompson

         Edwards                 Lewis of Tarrant         Tillery

         Ehrhardt                Lewis of Orange          Torres

         Eiland                  Longoria                 Turner of Coleman

         Elkins                  Luna                     Turner of Harris

         Farrar                  McCall                   Uher

         Finnell                 McClendon                Van de Putte

         Flores                  McReynolds               Walker

         Gallego                 Madden                   West

         Galloway                Marchant                 Williams

         Garcia                  Maxey                    Williamson

         Giddings                Merritt                  Wilson

         Glaze                   Moffat                   Wise

         Goodman                 Moreno                   Wohlgemuth

         Goolsby                 Mowery                   Wolens

         Gray                    Naishtat                 Woolley

         Greenberg               Nixon                    Yarbrough

         Grusendorf              Oakley                   Zbranek

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.C.R. No. 265 was adopted by the House on May

         16, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.C.R. No. 265 was adopted by the Senate on

         May 26, 1997, by a viva-voce vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor