By Sadler H.R. No. 228
76R5779 MDM-D
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, Many proud residents of Panola County will visit
1-2 Austin February 23-24, 1999, to celebrate Panola County Days at the
1-3 State Capitol, and this festive event offers an ideal opportunity
1-4 to recognize the county's many remarkable attributes; and
1-5 WHEREAS, Situated deep in the Piney Woods of East Texas,
1-6 Panola County was formerly the home of Caddo Indians; the county is
1-7 named after the Indian word for cotton and was created in the late
1-8 1840s from Harrison and Shelby counties; and
1-9 WHEREAS, Its advantageous location and rich natural resources
1-10 have helped Panola County to flourish, and throughout its history
1-11 the area has significantly contributed to the state's prosperity;
1-12 the county enjoys a strong and diversified economic base, with gas
1-13 processing, oil-field operation, forest industries, agribusiness,
1-14 tourism, and manufacturing as its major industries; and
1-15 WHEREAS, Resplendent with lush forests and sparkling bodies
1-16 of water, the region boasts lakes Murvaul and Martin, the Sabine
1-17 River, and the Toledo Bend Reservoir, which attract nature lovers
1-18 and outdoor sports enthusiasts; additional recreational
1-19 opportunities in the area include hunting, scenic drives, historic
1-20 sites, and museums; and
1-21 WHEREAS, Carthage, named for two consecutive years by writer
1-22 Norman Crampton as one of "The 100 Best Small Towns in America,"
1-23 serves as county seat with approximately 23,000 residents and home
1-24 to Panola College, the East Texas Medical Center-Carthage, and a
2-1 number of points of historic interest, several of which pay tribute
2-2 to country music favorites Tex Ritter and "Gentleman" Jim Reeves,
2-3 both natives of Panola County; and
2-4 WHEREAS, The award-winning Tex Ritter Museum highlights the
2-5 career of one of America's most beloved singing cowboys, and
2-6 "Gentleman" Jim Reeves was recently honored with a state historical
2-7 marker at his grave site, which is also distinguished by a
2-8 life-sized sculpture of the velvet-voiced singer; and
2-9 WHEREAS, In 1997, the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame opened
2-10 in Carthage with Gene Autry as its first inductee; Willie Nelson
2-11 entertained an audience of 1,000 at the grand opening celebration
2-12 in 1998, when he was inducted into the hall; the museum is a
2-13 tribute to Chet Stout and his late wife, Johnny, who were
2-14 instrumental in its creation; and
2-15 WHEREAS, Area residents and visitors alike can learn more
2-16 about the rich heritage of the region by visiting the Panola County
2-17 Historical Heritage Museum and the Panola County Historical Jail
2-18 Museum, home to the Leila B. Lagrone Family History Center and the
2-19 Mini-Law Enforcement and Pioneer Museum; a new addition to the
2-20 library at the jail museum will be the East Texas Oral History
2-21 Archive, a collection of oral history interviews, numbering in the
2-22 hundreds, by the Carthage High School and Panola College students
2-23 of Mrs. Ann Morris; and
2-24 WHEREAS, At this time it is indeed fitting that Panola County
2-25 residents receive legislative recognition for their county's proud
2-26 heritage and their citizens' many accomplishments; now, therefore,
2-27 be it
3-1 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
3-2 Legislature recognize February 23-24 as Panola County Days at the
3-3 State Capitol and extend warmest best wishes to all Panola County
3-4 citizens on this noteworthy occasion; and, be it further
3-5 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-6 prepared for the Panola Chamber of Commerce as an expression of
3-7 high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.