R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to join 1-2 the citizens of Aransas County in the joyous celebration of Aransas 1-3 County Day at the State Capitol on February 17, 1999; and 1-4 WHEREAS, Located on the southern Coastal Plains, the county 1-5 was created from Refugio County in 1871 and was named for Rio 1-6 Nuestra Senora de Aranzazu, which had taken its name from a famed 1-7 Spanish palace; and 1-8 WHEREAS, Its prime location has helped Aransas County to 1-9 flourish, and it continues to contribute greatly to the state's 1-10 fiscal prosperity; the county enjoys a strong and diversified 1-11 economic base, with agribusiness, tourism, oil and gas production, 1-12 and fish packing as its major industries; and 1-13 WHEREAS, Residents of Aransas County are justifiably proud of 1-14 the region's rich heritage; the Karankawa Indians once made their 1-15 home in this verdant setting, and Spanish explorer Diego Ortiz 1-16 Parrilla traveled across the area in 1766 on an expedition along 1-17 the Gulf Coast; since that time, countless others have been drawn 1-18 to the region's abundant supply of natural and cultural resources; 1-19 and 1-20 WHEREAS, Aransas County is also home to the Fulton Mansion 1-21 State Historic Structure, a three-story, Second Empire house built 1-22 by rancher and businessman George W. Fulton, Sr.; the unusual 1-23 house, which features innovative heating, ventilating, and 1-24 food-preservation systems, was added to the National Register of 2-1 Historic Places in 1975 and is maintained as a museum by the Texas 2-2 Parks and Wildlife Department; and 2-3 WHEREAS, Outdoor sports enthusiasts have come to partake in 2-4 the wide variety of activities offered at Goose Island State Park, 2-5 Copano Bay State Fishing Pier, and Rockport Beach, and many 2-6 bird-watchers and nature lovers have made their stay in the area 2-7 complete with a visit to the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, the 2-8 principal wintering ground of the endangered whooping crane; and 2-9 WHEREAS, Individuals of all ages enjoy the many celebrations 2-10 hosted in the community throughout the year, including Oyster Fest, 2-11 Fiesta en la Playa, the Hummer/Bird Celebration, Seafair, the 2-12 Fourth of July Fireworks and Art Festival, and the Children's 2-13 Christmas Tree; and 2-14 WHEREAS, Rich in culture and tradition, Aransas County is a 2-15 prosperous, forward-looking region and a leading participant in the 2-16 state's dynamic growth, and it gives the members of this chamber 2-17 great pleasure to join with our fellow citizens in saluting this 2-18 fine Texas county; now, therefore, be it 2-19 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas 2-20 Legislature hereby recognize February 17, 1999, as Aransas County 2-21 Day at the State Capitol and extend warmest best wishes to all its 2-22 citizens on this noteworthy occasion. Seaman 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 _______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 112 was adopted by the House on February 17, 1999, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House