By Hunter                                              H.R. No. 795

         75R11825 BNL-D                           

                                 R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, This year the Texas Historical Commission will

 1-2     celebrate the 35th anniversary of its Official Texas Historical

 1-3     Marker Program, which has served as a model for the development of

 1-4     historical marker programs in 17 states and one Canadian province

 1-5     and is the largest and most successful program of its kind in the

 1-6     nation; and

 1-7           WHEREAS, Since the program's inception in 1962, the Texas

 1-8     Historical Commission has placed more than 12,000 historical

 1-9     markers throughout Texas while maintaining other markers and

1-10     monuments that were erected during the 1936 Texas Centennial

1-11     celebration; and

1-12           WHEREAS, The success and popularity of the Texas historical

1-13     marker program is due in large measure to the tremendous efforts of

1-14     county historical commissions and local preservationists and

1-15     historians throughout the state; Official Texas Historical Markers

1-16     have been placed in all 254 counties of Texas, and those markers,

1-17     as well as the structures designated as Recorded Texas Historic

1-18     Landmarks, are key elements of local and regional efforts to

1-19     promote both historical preservation and tourism; and

1-20           WHEREAS, One of the foremost goals of the historical marker

1-21     program is the preservation of local oral, written, and

1-22     photographic histories throughout Texas; the markers truly convey

1-23     the people's history of the Lone Star State, and they provide a

1-24     vehicle with which to recognize and record every facet of local

 2-1     history, including minority and women's history; and

 2-2           WHEREAS, The Texas Historical Commission is currently

 2-3     involved in the Historical Markers 2000 Project, an ambitious

 2-4     initiative to photograph, survey, and repair the commission's vast

 2-5     network of historical markers; when completed in 1998, the project

 2-6     will result in the publication of seven regional historical marker

 2-7     guidebooks and a computer database, which will be accessible to the

 2-8     general public through the Internet; and

 2-9           WHEREAS, Over the past 35 years, the Texas Historical

2-10     Commission and its many dedicated employees have worked diligently

2-11     to preserve and promote the unique culture and spirit of the Lone

2-12     Star State, and their successful efforts have ensured that

2-13     countless future generations will be able to revisit the past and

2-14     connect with the trials and accomplishments of their forebears;

2-15     now, therefore, be it

2-16           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

2-17     Legislature hereby commend the Texas Historical Commission for its

2-18     outstanding efforts to preserve the heritage and culture of the

2-19     Lone Star State and recognize May 20, 1997, as Historical Markers

2-20     Day in Texas; and, be it further

2-21           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-22     prepared for the Texas Historical Commission as an expression of

2-23     high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.