HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1-1 WHEREAS, Since long before even the Osage Indians knew its
1-2 value, the bois d'arc tree has thrived in northeast Texas, and the
1-3 city of Commerce sits at the very heart of the geographic region to
1-4 which this famed and multipurpose tree is native; and
1-5 WHEREAS, The earliest residents of Texas used the bois d'arc
1-6 for dyes, fuel, and their bows and arrows that so amazed the first
1-7 French explorers; fence posts, wagon wheels, tools, and bois d'arc
1-8 bricks would follow, as later settlers learned the true worth of
1-9 the Osage orange; and
1-10 WHEREAS, It is an extremely hard wood, very durable, and it
1-11 possesses a natural fungicide; there was a time when many banks in
1-12 Texas would not finance a home unless it was built on sure-to-last
1-13 bois d'arc blocks; and
1-14 WHEREAS, During the lean and grim days of the Dust Bowl,
1-15 countless Texas bois d'arc seedlings were shipped across the Great
1-16 Plains to create thousands of miles of living fence, slowing
1-17 erosion and providing much-needed shade for beleaguered farmers
1-18 and their families; and
1-19 WHEREAS, In tribute to this useful and hardy native, the city
1-20 of Commerce has hosted its Annual Bois d'Arc Bash every September
1-21 for more than a decade; with a variety of cultural, historical,
1-22 educational, and recreational activities, the popular event is
1-23 indeed a memorable one and famed across the state; and
1-24 WHEREAS, The city's appreciation for the tree has earned it
2-1 considerable notice, for Texas Monthly, Texas Highways, and
2-2 Southern Living magazines have all featured stories of the Commerce
2-3 bois d'arc celebration, and Tumbleweed Smith has highlighted the
2-4 event on his popular radio program, "The Sound of Texas"; and
2-5 WHEREAS, Perhaps the centerpiece of all this bois d'arc ardor
2-6 is "Max," a 300-year-old giant of a bois d'arc that is listed as a
2-7 Famous and Historic Tree by American Forests; and
2-8 WHEREAS, The fine citizens of Commerce are justifiably proud
2-9 of the important role the bois d'arc tree has played in their long
2-10 and colorful history, and in turn their enthusiasm has made all of
2-11 Texas more aware of that role; their determined and successful
2-12 efforts have rightfully earned their city distinction as the
2-13 Official Bois d'Arc Capital of Texas; now, therefore, be it
2-14 RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas
2-15 hereby declare Commerce in Hunt County as the Official Bois d'Arc
2-16 Capital of Texas; and, be it further
2-17 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-18 prepared for prominent display in Commerce, the Official Bois d'Arc
2-19 Capital of Texas.
Brown of Kaufman
Laney Glaze Moreno of El Paso
Alexander Goodman Morrison
Allen Goolsby Mowery
Alvarado Gray Naishtat
Averitt Green Najera
Bailey Greenberg Nixon
Berman Grusendorf Noriega
Bonnen Gutierrez Oliveira
Bosse Haggerty Olivo
Brimer Hamric Palmer
Brown of Kaufman Hardcastle Pickett
Brown of Brazos Hartnett Pitts
Burnam Hawley Puente
Capelo Heflin Ramsay
Carter Hilbert Rangel
Chavez Hilderbran Reyna of Bexar
Chisum Hill Reyna of Dallas
Christian Hinojosa Ritter
Clark Hochberg Sadler
Coleman Hodge Salinas
Cook Homer Seaman
Corte Hope Shields
Counts Howard Siebert
Crabb Hunter Smith
Craddick Hupp Smithee
Crownover Isett Solis of Cameron
Cuellar Janek Solis of Bexar
Culberson Jones of Brazos Solomons
Danburg Jones of Lubbock Staples
Davis of Harris Jones of Dallas Swinford
Davis of Dallas Junell Talton
Delisi Keel Telford
Denny Keffer Thompson
Deshotel King of Parker Tillery
Driver King of Uvalde Truitt
Dukes Krusee Turner of Coleman
Dunnam Kuempel Turner of Harris
Dutton Lengefeld Uher
Edwards Lewis of Tarrant Uresti
Ehrhardt Lewis of Orange Van de Putte
Eiland Longoria Walker
Elkins Luna West
Ellis McCall Williams
Farabee McClendon Wilson
Farrar McReynolds Wise
Flores Madden Wohlgemuth
Gallego Marchant Wolens
Garcia Maxey Woolley
George Merritt Yarbrough
Giddings Moreno of Harris Zbranek
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 31 was adopted by the House on
February 9, 1999, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 31 was adopted by the Senate on May
10, 1999, by a viva-voce vote.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor