1-1                                       1

 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 540

 1-3           WHEREAS, On April 23, 1997, Washington County Day will be

 1-4     celebrated by the proud citizens of that illustrious county in

 1-5     recognition of the area's many significant contributions to the

 1-6     State of Texas; and

 1-7           WHEREAS, Located in southeast Central Texas,

 1-8     Washington County has an area of 611 square miles drained

 1-9     principally by the Brazos River, and its picturesque rolling

1-10     terrain includes the prairie and post oak belts; and

1-11           WHEREAS, The county was created in 1836 and organized

1-12     the following year and is renowned as the location of

1-13     Washington-on-the-Brazos, which was established in 1834 near the

1-14     location of a ferry that had been continuously operated on the

1-15     Brazos River since 1822; a "must see" for Texas history buffs,

1-16     Washington-on-the-Brazos achieved prominence during the Texas

1-17     Revolution as the site of the signing of the Texas Declaration

1-18     of Independence and the drafting of the constitution of the newly

1-19     born Republic of Texas; and

1-20           WHEREAS, Modern-day Washington County boasts a thriving

1-21     economy based primarily on manufacturing, agriculture, and

1-22     agribusiness, as well as a flourishing tourism industry; and

1-23           WHEREAS, The county seat of Brenham is home to the

 2-1     celebrated Blue Bell Creameries, whose ice cream has delighted

 2-2     Texans for generations, and Blinn Junior College, home of the

 2-3     back-to-back National Football Championship team the Buccaneers;

 2-4     and

 2-5           WHEREAS, Washington County has many stellar attractions to

 2-6     offer both tourists and residents alike; Somerville Lake provides

 2-7     some of the finest hunting and fishing to be found in the state

 2-8     today, and colorful bluebonnet trails dot the highways and byways

 2-9     during the springtime; and

2-10           WHEREAS, A number of the state's most unique and

2-11     enjoyable festivals also take place in Washington County; the

2-12     Washington County Fair is the oldest county fair in Texas, and the

2-13     town of Chappell Hill hosts the popular Bluebonnet Festival in the

2-14     spring and Scarecrow Festival each fall; and

2-15           WHEREAS, Other notable celebrations occurring in

2-16     Washington County include the Burton Cotton Gin Festival and

2-17     Brenham's Maifest, an annual event honoring the area's proud

2-18     German heritage; and

2-19           WHEREAS, Washington County has long been regarded as a

2-20     hotbed of athletic excellence in the sport of baseball, and the

2-21     exceptional success of local players has inspired many other area

2-22     athletes into taking up the bat and glove; and

2-23           WHEREAS, Adding to the rich cultural heritage of the

2-24     area are Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park, the Texas Baptist

2-25     Historical Museum, the Star of the Republic Museum, and the Brenham

 3-1     Heritage Museum, as well as many other notable historic sites; and

 3-2           WHEREAS, Preeminent among the county's finest assets are its

 3-3     friendly and hospitable citizens, who have gone to great lengths to

 3-4     make this lovely region a county that they are proud to call home;

 3-5     and

 3-6           WHEREAS, Renowned for Blue Bell, baseball, bluebonnets, bed

 3-7     and breakfasts, and the Birthplace of Texas, Washington County is

 3-8     truly one of the state's most outstanding counties, and the efforts

 3-9     of its residents in preserving its unique beauty and heritage truly

3-10     merit special praise and recognition; now, therefore, be it

3-11           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,

3-12     75th Legislature, hereby designate April 23, 1997, Washington County

3-13     Day and offer sincere best wishes to the county's fine citizens for

3-14     a memorable and joyous celebration; and, be it further

3-15           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be prepared

3-16     for Washington County as a memento of this special day.

3-17                                                    Ogden

3-18           Armbrister           Galloway            Patterson

3-19           Barrientos           Harris              Ratliff

3-20           Bivins               Haywood             Shapiro

3-21           Brown                Lindsay             Shapleigh

3-22           Cain                 Lucio               Sibley

3-23           Carona               Luna                Truan

3-24           Duncan               Madla               Wentworth

3-25           Ellis                Moncrief            West

3-26           Fraser               Nelson              Whitmire

3-27           Gallegos             Nixon               Zaffirini

3-28                      Bullock, President of the Senate

3-29                                  ______________________________________

3-30                                          President of the Senate

3-31                                       I hereby certify that the above

3-32                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate

3-33                                  on April 23, 1997.

3-34                                  ______________________________________

 4-1                                          Secretary of the Senate

 4-2                                  ______________________________________

 4-3                                           Member, Texas Senate