By Alexander                                     H.R. No. 213

      75R6673 WMS-D                           

                                 R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, On February 24, 1997, many proud residents of

 1-2     Henderson County will be in Austin to celebrate Henderson County

 1-3     Day at the Capitol; and

 1-4           WHEREAS, Bordered on the west by the Trinity River and on the

 1-5     east by the Neches River and Lake Palestine, the county was created

 1-6     on April 27, 1846, from parts of Nacogdoches and Houston counties

 1-7     and was named for James Pinckney Henderson, the first governor of

 1-8     the State of Texas; and

 1-9           WHEREAS, The county seat is the city of Athens, which is

1-10     renowned as the birthplace of that great American food staple, the

1-11     hamburger, and as the Black-Eyed Pea Capital of the World; and

1-12           WHEREAS, The fertile and gently rolling terrain of Henderson

1-13     County, combined with a temperate climate, has made the area a

1-14     major center for the production of such vital agricultural

1-15     commodities as grain, nursery crops, vegetables, melons, and

1-16     hardwood timber, as well as cattle, horses, and swine; and

1-17           WHEREAS, The region is also rich in a number of valuable

1-18     minerals, including oil, gas, clays, lignite, sulphur, sand, and

1-19     gravel, and those resources have helped to create a thriving

1-20     business community; and

1-21           WHEREAS, Henderson County boasts a variety of exciting and

1-22     unique annual events, including the Texas Fiddlers' Contest and

1-23     Reunion, the Black-Eyed Pea Jamboree, the Henderson County PRCA

1-24     Stampede Rodeo, the Athens Triathlon, the Henderson County

 2-1     Livestock Show, and the Christmas Extravaganza; and

 2-2           WHEREAS, Blessed with abundant natural beauty, Henderson

 2-3     County is an ideal locale for those who enjoy  fishing and hunting

 2-4     and the area is also home to the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center,

 2-5     an innovative aquarium and hatchery complex with more than 300,000

 2-6     gallons of aquaria; and

 2-7           WHEREAS, The residents of Henderson County are justifiably

 2-8     proud of their fine community and of the many unique qualities that

 2-9     make it an outstanding place in which to live, work, and raise a

2-10     family; in light of the citizenry's many contributions to the State

2-11     of Texas, it is indeed appropriate that Henderson County be given

2-12     special legislative recognition at this time; now, therefore, be it

2-13           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

2-14     Legislature hereby recognize February 24, 1997, as Henderson County

2-15     Day at the Capitol and join with the citizens of Henderson County

2-16     in paying tribute to one of Texas' finest counties; and, be it

2-17     further

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

2-19     prepared for prominent display in Henderson County as a

2-20     commemoration of this grand occasion and as an expression of high

2-21     regard by the Texas House of Representatives.