By Zbranek                                            H.C.R. No. 45
         76R4501 JBR-D                           
                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-1           WHEREAS, Many proud residents of Chambers County will travel
 1-2     to Austin on February 2, 1999, to celebrate Chambers County Day at
 1-3     the State Capitol; and
 1-4           WHEREAS, Located along the Gulf Coast between Houston and the
 1-5     Golden Triangle, the area now known as Chambers County played a key
 1-6     role in the development of Texas; it was here that Texas colonists
 1-7     first voiced opposition to the unjust policies of the Mexican
 1-8     government, and one of the earliest battles of the Texas Revolution
 1-9     was fought here; in 1858, the Texas Legislature created the county
1-10     out of parts of Liberty and Jefferson counties, and it was named
1-11     for prominent local politician Thomas Jefferson Chambers; and
1-12           WHEREAS, In later years, commercial irrigation canals would
1-13     bring economic prosperity to this region, as Chambers County became
1-14     a significant producer of rice; abundant soybean and rice crops,
1-15     combined with a vibrant cattle ranching industry, laid the
1-16     foundation for a strong agribusiness economy, and today that
1-17     economy has diversified to include petroleum processing, chemical
1-18     manufacturing, and steel production; and
1-19           WHEREAS, Tourism is also a growing industry in Chambers
1-20     County, with countless travellers seeking to take advantage of the
1-21     area's rich natural resources; the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge
1-22     has earned an international reputation as a birder's paradise,
1-23     hosting more than 270 species of birds and drawing bird enthusiasts
1-24     from every state in the nation and 36 foreign countries, and the
 2-1     county's 295 square miles of water attract casual and sport
 2-2     fishermen from near and far; and
 2-3           WHEREAS, While some tourists enjoy the great outdoors, others
 2-4     prefer to hunt for bargains at Larry's Old Time Trade Days or the
 2-5     area's many antique shops, and more than 450,000 visitors each year
 2-6     flock to Houston Raceway Park, one of the finest motor sports
 2-7     facilities in North America and home of the National Hot Rod
 2-8     Association Slick 50 Nationals; in addition, the county hosts such
 2-9     popular annual events as Texas Gatorfest, Mont Belvieu's Pioneer
2-10     Days, and the Texas Rice Festival; and
2-11           WHEREAS, The people of Chambers County can take justifiable
2-12     pride in their community's heritage and look forward to the future
2-13     with great anticipation; this unique county and its exceptional
2-14     citizens have played a significant role in Texas' development, and
2-15     their many contributions to the Lone Star State are indeed
2-16     deserving of special legislative recognition; and
2-17           WHEREAS, In marking this auspicious occasion, we also pay
2-18     tribute to the memory of the Honorable Oscar Nelson, Jr., who
2-19     passed away on February 14, 1997, two days after the first Chambers
2-20     County Day in 1997; Judge Nelson was instrumental in the
2-21     origination, organization, and promotion of that inaugural event
2-22     and his contributions to the citizens of Chambers County will not
2-23     soon be forgotten; now, therefore, be it
2-24           RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas
2-25     hereby recognize February 2, 1999, as Chambers County Day at the
2-26     Capitol and join the citizens of that county in paying tribute to
2-27     one of Texas' finest communities; and, be it further
 3-1           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
 3-2     prepared for the people of Chambers County as a commemoration of
 3-3     this grand occasion and as an expression of high regard by the
 3-4     Texas House of Representatives and Senate.