By Ramsay                                             H.C.R. No. 15
         76R2971 BE-D                           
                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-1           WHEREAS, The cultural and economic contributions of Franklin
 1-2     County to the State of Texas have been of great importance, and on
 1-3     March 2, 1999, a delegation of citizens from this proud region will
 1-4     be in Austin to celebrate their ties to the past and future of
 1-5     Texas; and
 1-6           WHEREAS, The northeast corner of the state is rich in both
 1-7     historic and prehistoric drama; from early Native Americans drawn
 1-8     by the lush woodlands and inexhaustible water, to a new nation's
 1-9     first westward settlers eager for land and opportunity, this
1-10     remarkable area of the state still offers individuals many of the
1-11     same attractions today; and
1-12           WHEREAS, Franklin County was mapped in March of 1875 and
1-13     named after Benjamin C. Franklin, an early Lone Star settler; with
1-14     Mount Vernon as the county seat, citizens began the traditions of
1-15     hard work and determination that made the first timber and farming
1-16     operations so successful; and
1-17           WHEREAS, Cotton and corn, oil and coal, stock animals, and
1-18     lumber were the initial drives to prosperity, but the residents of
1-19     Franklin County set their sights on industry as well; since the
1-20     establishment of the Franklin County Industrial Foundation in the
1-21     early 1960s, manufacturing has played an increasingly important
1-22     role in the county's fortunes, and Mount Vernon has been named a
1-23     "Lone Star City," a designation granted to cities with a viable
1-24     economic development plan; and
 2-1           WHEREAS, Huntington-Pacific Ceramics and Lowe's Distribution
 2-2     Center are but two of the many important ventures doing business in
 2-3     Franklin County as the 20th century comes to a close; the area is
 2-4     still among the state's top counties in dairy and broiler
 2-5     production, and the farming of blueberries and Christmas trees
 2-6     complements more traditional cash crops such as hay, sorghum, and
 2-7     soybeans; and
 2-8           WHEREAS, With an impressive infrastructure for utilities and
 2-9     transportation, the county is geared for even greater development;
2-10     most importantly, Franklin County has dedicated tremendous
2-11     resources to students and education, and today the countywide Mount
2-12     Vernon Independent School District is recognized throughout the
2-13     state for its high academic achievement; and
2-14           WHEREAS, For more than 120 years the citizens of Franklin
2-15     County have played an important role in the economic and cultural
2-16     histories of Texas; while they look back with justifiable
2-17     satisfaction, the future surely looks even brighter, and their many
2-18     exceptional contributions to the Lone Star State are indeed worthy
2-19     of special legislative recognition and praise; now, therefore, be
2-20     it
2-21           RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas
2-22     hereby recognize March 2, 1999, as Franklin County Day at the State
2-23     Capitol and extend to the county's citizens sincere best wishes for
2-24     continued success and happiness.