By:  Sibley                                            S.R. No. 311

 1-1                                       1

 1-2                              SENATE RESOLUTION

 1-3           WHEREAS, The Texas Senate takes great pleasure in joining the

 1-4     citizens of Johnson County in the celebration of Johnson County Day

 1-5     at the Capitol on March 11, 1997; and

 1-6           WHEREAS, Occupying 729 square miles of North Central Texas,

 1-7     Johnson County was first settled by Texas Ranger Henry Briden and

 1-8     a group of settlers led by D. Smith and W. Meadows on Chambers

 1-9     Creek in 1852; and

1-10           WHEREAS, In 1856 the first permanent farm was begun by

1-11     Judge McKinsey after he saw the area on a horseback ride and was

1-12     so pleased with the potential for farming; and

1-13           WHEREAS, During the Texas fight for independence, the

1-14     territory of Johnson County was composed of the Mexican Municipality

1-15     of Milam and, upon Texas' gaining her independence, Johnson County

1-16     became part of Milam County, then McLennan County, and later, by

1-17     Act of the 1854 Legislature, achieved its own independence and

1-18     distinct name; and

1-19           WHEREAS, The 1854 Legislature named the county after a brave

1-20     pioneer, Colonel Middleton T. Johnson, who served with distinction

1-21     under the command of Zachary Taylor in the Mexican War of 1846 and

1-22     served his fellow Texans honorably in the Texas Legislature; and

1-23           WHEREAS, The Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad built

 2-1     tracks through the county in 1881 and served, along with the many

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

 2-3     prosperity of the region for many years to come; and

 2-4           WHEREAS, In addition to Cleburne, Burleson, and Joshua,

 2-5     Johnson County is home to the thriving communities of Alvarado,

 2-6     Briaroaks, Godley, Grandview, Keene, Rio Vista, Venus, and portions

 2-7     of Mansfield and Crowley; and

 2-8           WHEREAS, In 1994, the industries of mining, construction,

 2-9     manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, finance, insurance, real

2-10     estate, and other services were responsible for over $1.2 million

2-11     of gross sales in Johnson County, a 15.4 percent increase over the

2-12     previous year; and

2-13           WHEREAS, Johnson County is home to many fine civic and

2-14     religious organizations that represent a diverse collection of

2-15     denominations and volunteer causes; and

2-16           WHEREAS, Johnson County boasts of Southwestern Adventist

2-17     University and a campus of Hill Junior College, two fine

2-18     institutions of postsecondary education; and

2-19           WHEREAS, Johnson County features several beautiful

2-20     recreational areas such as Cleburne State Park, Lake Pat Cleburne,

2-21     and Hams Creek; and

2-22           WHEREAS, In all of the recorded history of the

2-23     Texas Legislature, no reference could be found to this body ever

2-24     having recognized a delegation from Johnson County prior to this

2-25     legislative session; now, therefore, be it

 3-1           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,

 3-2     75th Legislature, hereby recognize March 11, 1997, as Johnson County

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

 3-4     paying tribute to one of Texas' finest counties; and, be it further

 3-5           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be prepared

 3-6     for Johnson County as a commemoration of this grand occasion and as

 3-7     an expression of highest regard by the Texas Senate.

 3-8                                  ______________________________________

 3-9                                          President of the Senate

3-10                                       I hereby certify that the above

3-11                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate

3-12                                  on March 11, 1997.

3-13                                  ______________________________________

3-14                                          Secretary of the Senate

3-15                                  ______________________________________

3-16                                           Member, Texas Senate