By Williams                                            H.R. No. 334
         76R8308 MDM-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The members of the Texas House of Representatives
 1-2     are proud to join the citizens of Grimes County in the celebration
 1-3     of Grimes County Day at the State Capitol on March 4, 1999, and
 1-4     this festive event offers an ideal opportunity to recognize the
 1-5     county's many unique attributes; and
 1-6           WHEREAS, Located in Southeast Texas, Grimes County is the
 1-7     former home of the Bidai Indians and was created from Montgomery
 1-8     County by the 1st Texas Legislature in 1846; it was named in honor
 1-9     of Jesse Grimes, who was a notable colonist, a signer of the Texas
1-10     Declaration of Independence, and a state senator from Montgomery
1-11     County; and
1-12           WHEREAS, Local property owner Henry Fanthorp donated the land
1-13     for Anderson, the county seat, and the town was named in honor of
1-14     Kenneth L. Anderson, the last vice president of the Republic of
1-15     Texas; home to the Fanthorp Inn State Historical Park, which
1-16     includes a historic log structure inn built in 1834, Anderson is
1-17     now recognized on the National Register of Historic Places, as is
1-18     downtown Navasota; and
1-19           WHEREAS, The centerpiece of the Welsh-design courthouse
1-20     square is the Grimes County Courthouse, an Edwardian-Victorian
1-21     structure built in 1894 of hand-formed red bricks and rusticated
1-22     native stone with a central wooden cupola; a dramatic chapter in
1-23     the building's history occurred during the 1930s with the trial of
1-24     a Clyde Barrow gang member; and
 2-1           WHEREAS, Grimes County's largest city, Navasota, was
 2-2     established by the Texas Legislature in 1866 and played a pivotal
 2-3     role in the economic success of the cotton plantations and farms
 2-4     along the Brazos and Navasota rivers; the city has functioned as
 2-5     the main railroad terminus and shipment center for a three-county
 2-6     area, and its attractions include the Horlock History Center and a
 2-7     statue honoring the French explorer La Salle, who traveled the area
 2-8     in the late 17th century; and
 2-9           WHEREAS, The Brazos and Navasota rivers enrich the soil of
2-10     the rolling hills in Grimes County, which also boasts such
2-11     recreational treasures as the Gibbons Creek Reservoir,
2-12     Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park, where the Texas Declaration of
2-13     Independence was signed, and Sam Houston National Forest, all
2-14     drawing cards for hunters, anglers, and other outdoor sports
2-15     enthusiasts; and
2-16           WHEREAS, The region's continued prosperity in recent years
2-17     has centered on agribusiness, manufacturing, and tourism; among the
2-18     annual festivals and events that delight visitors to Grimes County
2-19     are the Renaissance Festival in Plantersville, Texian Days in
2-20     Anderson, the Navasota Blues Festival, the Grimes County Fair, Iola
2-21     Hey Day, and Richards Founders Day; and
2-22           WHEREAS, The continued popularity of Grimes County as a place
2-23     to live, vacation, and explore Texas history is enhanced by the
2-24     county's friendly residents and by its rich historic, natural, and
2-25     cultural resources, and it is a pleasure to salute this fine Texas
2-26     county at this time; now, therefore, be it
2-27           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
 3-1     Legislature hereby recognize March 4, 1999, as Grimes County Day at
 3-2     the State Capitol and extend to those residents visiting on this
 3-3     day best wishes for a memorable trip to the Capitol City; and, be
 3-4     it further
 3-5           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
 3-6     prepared for the Grimes County delegation as an expression of high
 3-7     regard by the Texas House of Representatives.