By Lengefeld H.R. No. 401 76R8429 MDM-F R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, March 11, 1999, has been selected by the citizens of 1-2 Copperas Cove as a special day to gather at the State Capitol to 1-3 celebrate and recognize the contributions citizens of that fine 1-4 city have made to the history and prosperity of our remarkable 1-5 state; and 1-6 WHEREAS, Hardy pioneers began settling in the area of 1-7 present-day Copperas Cove as early as 1845, when our state was 1-8 itself an independent, thriving, and proud nation, the Republic of 1-9 Texas; these early settlers braved war with the indigenous 1-10 population, harsh cold, and even harsher blistering heat to carve a 1-11 life for themselves and a course for their children to follow; and 1-12 WHEREAS, From an original native-stone building, constructed 1-13 by Marsden Ogletree in 1878, where he operated a post office and 1-14 stagecoach stop for travelers going from Georgetown to Fort Gates, 1-15 near present-day Gatesville, the seat of county government, 1-16 Copperas Cove grew, and today's citizens now enjoy the fruits of 1-17 the labors of those hardy homesteaders and cattlemen; and 1-18 WHEREAS, From this small hamlet nestled in the cove of the 1-19 mountains beside the spring of copperas water, the city took its 1-20 name of Copperas Cove; since that time it has flourished, first 1-21 with the coming of the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad in 1-22 1882, and again with the establishment of Camp Hood in 1942, to 1-23 become the largest city in Coryell County; today Copperas Cove is a 1-24 prosperous and thriving city, no longer the country cousin of 2-1 larger area municipalities but a thoroughly modern, vibrant, and 2-2 forward-looking city with a diversified economy; and 2-3 WHEREAS, The citizens of Copperas Cove take special pride in 2-4 the Copperas Cove Lady Dawgs basketball team, winners of the 1998 2-5 Tournament of Champions, a national competition, and the Bulldawgs 2-6 football team, the 1998-1999 regional state semifinalists; and 2-7 WHEREAS, The city's neighborhoods provide a safe, family 2-8 environment where recreational facilities and activities abound, 2-9 and area schools offer modern instruction in a community atmosphere 2-10 where academic achievement is top priority; local students have 2-11 consistently achieved high scores on state and national 2-12 standardized tests, and residents are proud to have earned the 2-13 right to call their town "The City Built for Family Living"; and 2-14 WHEREAS, There is always something to celebrate in Copperas 2-15 Cove, with three major festivals--Rabbitfest in May, Ogletree Gap 2-16 Folklife Festival in October, and Krist Kindl Markt in 2-17 December--plus a host of family-oriented events and activities 2-18 throughout the year, so that the fun never ends in this fine city; 2-19 and 2-20 WHEREAS, Due to the growth experienced in recent years, 2-21 businesses delivering goods and services have flourished; ethnic 2-22 and multicultural cuisine, boutiques and specialty shops, large 2-23 department stores and automobile dealerships, plus the very best in 2-24 health care for humans and animals, together with a myriad of 2-25 choices for the home buyer or renter, from palatial estates to 2-26 family farms and everything in between, make Copperas Cove an ideal 2-27 place to be, deep in the heart of the Lone Star State; now, 3-1 therefore, be it 3-2 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas 3-3 Legislature proudly join the citizens of Copperas Cove in 3-4 celebrating March 11, 1999, as Copperas Cove Day at the State 3-5 Capitol and extend warmest best wishes to the members of the 3-6 delegation on this noteworthy occasion; and, be it further 3-7 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-8 prepared for the citizens of Copperas Cove as an expression of high 3-9 regard by the Texas House of Representatives.