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.