By Wohlgemuth                                          H.R. No. 326

         Line and page numbers may not match official copy.

         Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.

                                 R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives takes great

 1-2     pleasure in joining the citizens of Johnson County in the

 1-3     celebration of Johnson County Day at the Capitol on March 11, 1997;

 1-4     and

 1-5           WHEREAS, Occupying 729 square miles of North Central Texas,

 1-6     Johnson County was first settled by Texas Ranger Henry Briden and a

 1-7     group of settlers led by D. Smith and W. Meadows on Chambers Creek

 1-8     in 1852; and

 1-9           WHEREAS, In 1856 the first permanent farm was begun by Judge

1-10     McKinsey after he saw the area on a horseback ride and was so

1-11     pleased with the potential for farming; and

1-12           WHEREAS, During the Texas fight for independence, the

1-13     territory of Johnson County was composed of the Mexican

1-14     Municipality of Milam and, upon Texas' gaining her independence,

1-15     Johnson County became part of Milam County, then McLennan County,

1-16     and later, by act of the 1854 Legislature, achieved its own

1-17     independence and distinct name; and

1-18           WHEREAS, The 1854 Legislature named the county after a brave

1-19     pioneer, Colonel Middleton T. Johnson, who served with distinction

1-20     under the command of Zachary Taylor in the Mexican War of 1846, and

1-21     served his fellow Texans honorably in the Texas legislature; and

 2-1           WHEREAS, The Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad built

 2-2     tracks through the county in 1881 and served, along with the many

 2-3     fine agricultural producers and small businessmen, to drive the

 2-4     prosperity of the region for many years to come; and

 2-5           WHEREAS, In addition to Cleburne, Burleson, and Joshua,

 2-6     Johnson County is home to the thriving communities of Alvarado,

 2-7     Briaroaks, Godley, Grandview, Keene, Rio Vista, Venus, and portions

 2-8     of Mansfield and Crowley; and

 2-9           WHEREAS, In 1994 the industries of mining, construction,

2-10     manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, finance, insurance, real

2-11     estate, and other services were responsible for over 1.2 million

2-12     dollars of gross sales in Johnson County, a 15.4% increase over the

2-13     previous year; and

2-14           WHEREAS, Johnson County is home to many fine civic and

2-15     religious organizations that represent a diverse collection of

2-16     denominations and volunteer causes; and

2-17           WHEREAS, Johnson County boasts of Southwestern Adventist

2-18     University and a campus of Hill Junior College, two fine

2-19     institutions of post-secondary education; and

2-20           WHEREAS, Johnson County features several beautiful

2-21     recreational areas such as Cleburne State Park, Lake Pat Cleburne,

2-22     and Hams Creek; and

2-23           WHEREAS, In all of the recorded history of the Texas

2-24     Legislature, no reference could be found to this body ever having

2-25     recognized a delegation from Johnson County prior to this

 3-1     legislative session; now, therefore, be it

 3-2           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

 3-3     Legislature hereby recognize March 11, 1997 as Johnson County Day

 3-4     at the Capitol and join with the citizens of Johnson County in

 3-5     paying tribute to one of Texas' finest counties; and, be it further

 3-6           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

 3-7     prepared for Johnson County as a commemoration of this grand

 3-8     occasion and as an expression of highest regard by the Texas House

 3-9     of Representatives.