By Staples                                       H.R. No. 300

      75R7171 JTR-D                           

                                 R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, On March 19, 1997, members of the Jacksonville

 1-2     Leadership Group will be in Austin to celebrate Jacksonville Day at

 1-3     the State Capitol, and this festive event furnishes an ideal

 1-4     opportunity to extol the many attributes of this fine Texas town;

 1-5     and

 1-6           WHEREAS, Nestled in the heart of the Piney Woods,

 1-7     Jacksonville was situated in order to take advantage of the

 1-8     International-Great Northern Railroad in 1872, and since that time

 1-9     the community has grown from a small way station to a thriving and

1-10     diverse city; and

1-11           WHEREAS, An agricultural center from the outset, Jacksonville

1-12     was known in the 1930s and 1940s as the "Tomato Capital of the

1-13     World," and the city's annual Tomato Fest pays tribute to this

1-14     crop's role in the area's early development; produce, greenhouse

1-15     plants, and Christmas trees also thrive in the local soil, and

1-16     cattle, timber, and manufacturing have all become mainstays of the

1-17     local economy; and

1-18           WHEREAS, In addition to its vital business community,

1-19     Jacksonville also boasts a number of institutions of higher

1-20     education, including Jacksonville College, Lon Morris College, and

1-21     the Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary; and

1-22           WHEREAS, The region's vibrant and varied natural beauty

1-23     contributes to Jacksonville's high quality of life, and Lakes

1-24     Jacksonville, Palestine, and Striker offer outdoor enthusiasts

 2-1     ample recreational opportunities; and

 2-2           WHEREAS, Blessed with a rich heritage, abundant natural

 2-3     resources, and a dynamic citizenry, Jacksonville successfully

 2-4     combines the bustle of a modern city with the charm and

 2-5     friendliness of a small town, and it is indeed fitting at this time

 2-6     to recognize this remarkable city and its proud residents; now,

 2-7     therefore, be it

 2-8           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

 2-9     Legislature hereby recognize March 19, 1997, as Jacksonville Day at

2-10     the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the visiting members

2-11     of the Jacksonville Leadership Group; and, be it further

2-12           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-13     prepared for the members of the Jacksonville Leadership Group as an

2-14     expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.