By:  Nixon                                             S.R. No. 235

 1-1                                       1

 1-2                              SENATE RESOLUTION

 1-3           WHEREAS, On February 24, 1997, many proud residents of

 1-4     Henderson County will be in Austin to celebrate Henderson County

 1-5     Day at the Capitol; and

 1-6           WHEREAS, Bordered on the west by the Trinity River and

 1-7     on the east by the Neches River and Lake Palestine, the county

 1-8     was created on April 27, 1846, from parts of Nacogdoches and

 1-9     Houston counties and was named for James Pinckney Henderson,

1-10     the first governor of the State of Texas; and

1-11           WHEREAS, The county seat is the City of Athens, which is

1-12     renowned as the birthplace of that great American food staple, the

1-13     hamburger, and as the Black-Eyed Pea Capital of the World; and

1-14           WHEREAS, The fertile and gently rolling terrain of

1-15     Henderson County, combined with a temperate climate, has made the

1-16     area a major center for the production of such vital agricultural

1-17     commodities as grain, nursery crops, vegetables, melons, and

1-18     hardwood timber, as well as cattle, horses, and swine; and

1-19           WHEREAS, The region is also rich in a number of valuable

1-20     minerals, including oil, gas, clays, lignite, sulphur, sand, and

1-21     gravel, and those resources have helped to create a thriving

1-22     business community; and

1-23           WHEREAS, Henderson County boasts a variety of exciting and

 2-1     unique annual events, including the Texas Fiddlers' Contest and

 2-2     Reunion, the Black-Eyed Pea Jamboree, the Henderson County PRCA

 2-3     Stampede Rodeo, the Athens Triathlon, the Henderson County

 2-4     Livestock Show, and the Christmas Extravaganza; and

 2-5           WHEREAS, Blessed with abundant natural beauty,

 2-6     Henderson County is an ideal locale for those who enjoy fishing

 2-7     and hunting, and the area is also home to the Texas Freshwater

 2-8     Fisheries Center, an innovative aquarium and hatchery complex

 2-9     with more than 300,000 gallons of aquaria; and

2-10           WHEREAS, The residents of Henderson County are justifiably

2-11     proud of their fine community and of the many unique qualities

2-12     that make it an outstanding place in which to live, work, and raise

2-13     a family; in light of the citizenry's many contributions to the

2-14     State of Texas, it is indeed appropriate that Henderson County be

2-15     given special legislative recognition at this time; now, therefore,

2-16     be it

2-17           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,

2-18     75th Legislature, hereby recognize February 24, 1997, as

2-19     Henderson County Day at the Capitol and join the citizens of

2-20     Henderson County in paying tribute to one of Texas' finest

2-21     counties; and, be it further

2-22           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be prepared

2-23     for prominent display in Henderson County as a commemoration of this

2-24     grand occasion and as an expression of high regard by the Texas Senate.

2-25                                  ______________________________________

2-26                                          President of the Senate

 3-1                                       I hereby certify that the above

 3-2                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate

 3-3                                  on February 24, 1997.

 3-4                                  ______________________________________

 3-5                                          Secretary of the Senate

 3-6                                  ______________________________________

 3-7                                           Member, Texas Senate