HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-1           WHEREAS, The Texas Legislature is proud to join the citizens
 1-2     of Paris, Texas, in joyous celebration of Paris-Lamar County Day at
 1-3     the Capitol on February 25, 1999; and
 1-4           WHEREAS, Located in the heart of the Red River Valley, Paris
 1-5     was founded in 1839 on the divide between the Red and Sulphur
 1-6     rivers and became the Lamar County seat five years later; and
 1-7           WHEREAS, The community was incorporated in 1845 and grew in
 1-8     importance and population as it became a railroad hub; it continues
 1-9     to play a major role in our state's economic vitality today as the
1-10     trade, medical, education, and industrial center of Northeast
1-11     Texas; and
1-12           WHEREAS, The strength of the area's economy lies in a solid
1-13     industrial base; the community is home to four major Fortune 500
1-14     manufacturers, and more than 20 percent of its labor force is
1-15     employed in the manufacturing sector; and
1-16           WHEREAS, Paris also is the home of two renowned health care
1-17     facilities, Christus St. Joseph's Health Services and McCuistion
1-18     Regional Medical Center, which serve Northeast Texas and a large
1-19     portion of Southeastern Oklahoma as well; and
1-20           WHEREAS, The community is justifiably proud of its fine
1-21     educational facilities; Paris Junior College addresses the higher
1-22     education needs of the area and has expanded its campuses to
1-23     nearby Sulphur Springs and Greenville, and Lamar County also takes
1-24     immense pride in its five outstanding public school systems; and
 2-1           WHEREAS, Paris was deemed best small city in Texas by Kevin
 2-2     Heubusch in his book The New Rating Guide to Life in America's
 2-3     Small Cities; and
 2-4           WHEREAS, The city draws many visitors who come to enjoy its
 2-5     vast array of natural and cultural resources; the second-largest
 2-6     Paris in the world, the city has benefited from the rich European
 2-7     culture of its namesake as seen in the lovely Culbertson Fountain
 2-8     in the heart of downtown; and
 2-9           WHEREAS, Holding the unofficial designation as the Crape
2-10     Myrtle City of Texas since 1936, Paris received the official Crape
2-11     Myrtle City of Texas designation by a concurrent resolution of the
2-12     Texas House of Representatives and Senate in 1997; and
2-13           WHEREAS, Lakes Crook and Pat Mayse offer sports enthusiasts a
2-14     wide variety of recreational opportunities, while the community's
2-15     Sam Bell Maxey State Historic Structure and its many other historic
2-16     sites impart a sense of the town's vibrant heritage; and
2-17           WHEREAS, Rich in culture and tradition, Paris is a
2-18     prosperous, forward-looking community and a leading participant in
2-19     the state's dynamic growth, and it gives the Texas Legislature
2-20     great pleasure to join with our fellow citizens in saluting this
2-21     fine Texas community; now, therefore, be it
2-22           RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas
2-23     hereby designate February 25, 1999, as Paris-Lamar County Day at
2-24     the Capitol and extend best wishes to all of the community's
2-25     residents on this noteworthy occasion; and, be it further
2-26           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-27     prepared for the citizens of Paris as an expression of high regard
 3-1     by the Texas House of Representatives and Senate.
                                                                       Homer
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.C.R. No. 107 was adopted by the House on
         February 25, 1999, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.C.R. No. 107 was adopted by the Senate on
         March 1, 1999, by a viva-voce vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  _____________________
                            Date
                    _____________________
                          Governor