By Alexander H.R. No. 208 76R5290 GMW-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, On February 17, 1999, many proud residents of 1-2 Henderson County will gather in Austin to celebrate Henderson 1-3 County Day at the State Capitol; and 1-4 WHEREAS, Henderson County, named for the first governor of 1-5 Texas, James Pinckney Henderson, was created on April 27, 1846, 1-6 from parts of Nacogdoches and Houston counties, and it is bordered 1-7 by the Trinity River on the west and the Neches River and Lake 1-8 Palestine on the east; and 1-9 WHEREAS, The county seat is Athens, which is renowned as the 1-10 official birthplace of the hamburger and the Black-Eyed Pea Capital 1-11 of the World, as well as the site of the Texas Freshwater Fisheries 1-12 Center, a world-class aquarium and hatchery complex with over 1-13 300,000 gallons of aquaria; and 1-14 WHEREAS, Other thriving towns in Henderson County include Gun 1-15 Barrel City, a recreation, retirement, and retail center; Malakoff, 1-16 the gateway to Cedar Creek Lake and the home of the 1998 1-17 bi-district champion Malakoff High School Tigers; and Chandler, 1-18 which is located on the north shore of Lake Palestine and is the 1-19 site of the Chandler Pow Wow; and 1-20 WHEREAS, The fertile terrain and temperate climate of 1-21 Henderson County have made the area a major production center for 1-22 agricultural commodities such as grain, nursery crops, vegetables, 1-23 melons, hardwood timber, cattle, horses, and swine; in addition, 1-24 this region is rich in oil, gas, clays, lignite, sulphur, sand, and 2-1 gravel, and is also a sportsman's paradise, providing outdoorsmen 2-2 with some of Texas' best fishing and hunting; and 2-3 WHEREAS, This unique county features many exciting annual 2-4 events, including the Texas Fiddlers' Contest and Reunion, the 2-5 Black-Eyed Pea Jamboree, the Henderson County PRCA Stampede Rodeo, 2-6 the Athens Triathlon, the Henderson County Livestock Show, the 2-7 Fletcher Davis Hamburger Cook-off, the Cornbread Festival, and the 2-8 Christmas Extravaganza; and 2-9 WHEREAS, While visiting the State Capitol, the Henderson 2-10 County contingent will participate in a luncheon with their 2-11 legislative representatives as well as meet with various committees 2-12 and state agencies with whom they will discuss issues of interest 2-13 to Henderson County residents; and 2-14 WHEREAS, Henderson County continues to be one of the Lone 2-15 Star State's greatest assets and an outstanding place in which to 2-16 live, work, and raise a family; it is indeed appropriate that the 2-17 citizenry of this county be given special recognition at this time; 2-18 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 Henderson County 2-21 Day at the State Capitol and join the citizens of that county in 2-22 paying tribute to one of Texas' finest communities; and, be it 2-23 further 2-24 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-25 prepared for prominent display in Henderson County as a 2-26 commemoration of this grand occasion and as an expression of high 2-27 regard by the Texas House of Representatives.