By Zbranek                                           H.C.R. No. 205
         76R10019 GMW-D                           
                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-1           WHEREAS, On April 26, 1999, many proud residents of Liberty
 1-2     County will gather in Austin to celebrate the inaugural Liberty
 1-3     County Legislative Day at the State Capitol; and
 1-4           WHEREAS, Located in the heart of Southeast Texas, Liberty
 1-5     County is situated midway between Houston and the Golden Triangle
 1-6     on the Coastal Prairie and is bisected by the Trinity River; and
 1-7           WHEREAS, The early exploration of the region dates back to
 1-8     1756 when Spanish settlers established the outpost Atascosito  and
 1-9     an early military route known as the Atascosito Road; in 1826 Anglo
1-10     colonists and Mexican authorities created the Atascosito District
1-11     and five years later designated the municipality Villa de la
1-12     Santisima Trinidad de la Libertad, which became known as Liberty
1-13     and included all or part of 10 modern-day counties in Southeast
1-14     Texas; and
1-15           WHEREAS, Liberty County was formed when the new Republic of
1-16     Texas was officially organized in 1836, and it has the distinction
1-17     of being one of the Lone Star State's 23 original counties; the
1-18     following year, the city of Liberty was incorporated and named the
1-19     county seat; and
1-20           WHEREAS, Today the county features a booming economy and a
1-21     growing tourism industry; a part of the greater Houston
1-22     metropolitan area, the county includes the incorporated cities of
1-23     Ames, Cleveland, Daisetta, Dayton, Dayton Lakes, Devers, Hardin,
1-24     Kenefick, Plum Grove, North Cleveland, as well as Liberty; and
 2-1           WHEREAS, Through the years, the county has been home to two
 2-2     Texas governors:  Ross S. Sterling, the 31st governor of Texas, and
 2-3     Marion Price Daniel, the 38th governor of Texas; during his
 2-4     lifetime, Governor Daniel became the only Texan ever to have served
 2-5     in all three branches of government as a legislator, governor, and
 2-6     justice of the Texas Supreme Court, and he also held the offices of
 2-7     speaker of the house, Texas attorney general, and U.S. senator over
 2-8     the course of his career; and
 2-9           WHEREAS, Rich in history, Liberty County is an attractive,
2-10     prosperous area that has become an outstanding place in which to
2-11     live, work, and raise a family, and it is indeed appropriate that
2-12     the citizenry of this county be given special recognition at this
2-13     time; now, therefore, be it
2-14           RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas
2-15     hereby recognize April 26, 1999, as Liberty County Legislative Day
2-16     at the State Capitol and join the citizens of that county in paying
2-17     tribute to this outstanding community.