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.