By Deshotel H.R. No. 133 76R5086 GMW-D 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 Port Arthur in the joyous celebration of Port 1-3 Arthur Day at the Capitol on February 22, 1999; and 1-4 WHEREAS, Located just nine miles from the Gulf of Mexico in 1-5 Jefferson County, Port Arthur was founded by Arthur E. Stilwell in 1-6 1895; a railroad promoter, Mr. Stilwell was looking for a town to 1-7 serve as the terminus of his railroad connecting Kansas City to the 1-8 Gulf of Mexico, and the city that came to bear his name seemed 1-9 ideally situated to serve as both a commercial seaport and a 1-10 tourist resort; and 1-11 WHEREAS, Mr. Stilwell's expansive vision for the city was 1-12 secured in 1901 when the nearby Spindletop eruption ushered in the 1-13 great Texas oilfield boom; by 1914, Port Arthur was the second 1-14 largest oil-refining point in the nation, and the city's motto "We 1-15 Oil the World" continues to hold true, as nearly one million 1-16 barrels of crude oil are refined there each day; and 1-17 WHEREAS, Throughout the years Port Arthur has established an 1-18 enduring commitment to educational excellence, serving as the first 1-19 city in Texas to adopt the 12-grade public school system and as the 1-20 proud home to Lamar University at Port Arthur since 1909, when it 1-21 was founded as Port Arthur College; and 1-22 WHEREAS, With its abundance of both freshwater and saltwater 1-23 fishing sites, Port Arthur has long been hailed as a fisherman's 1-24 paradise, and outdoor enthusiasts enjoy further recreational 2-1 opportunities at Sea Rim State Park and the McFaddin and Texas 2-2 Point national wildlife refuges; both of the wildlife refuges are 2-3 home to a tremendous variety of waterfowl, and the McFaddin Refuge 2-4 contains one of the densest populations of American alligators in 2-5 Texas; and 2-6 WHEREAS, Rich in history and tradition, Port Arthur is a 2-7 forward-looking community and a leading participant in the state's 2-8 dynamic growth, and it is truly a pleasure to salute this 2-9 remarkable city and its people on such an auspicious occasion; now, 2-10 therefore, be it 2-11 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas 2-12 Legislature hereby recognize February 22, 1999, as Port Arthur Day 2-13 at the Capitol and join the citizens of that city in paying tribute 2-14 to one of the Lone Star State's finest communities.