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