R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, On March 15, 1999, the Texas House of
 1-2     Representatives will join many proud residents of Hamilton County
 1-3     in paying tribute to this fine county; and
 1-4           WHEREAS, Rolling prairies and flat-topped buttes make up much
 1-5     of the geography of Hamilton County, providing spectacular vistas
 1-6     as the Leon, Lampasas, and Bosque rivers thread their way through
 1-7     limestone cliffs and across the intervening plains; and
 1-8           WHEREAS, These well-watered pastures, dotted with stands of
 1-9     oak, elm, and cedar, provided cover and food for the great herds of
1-10     buffalo that once roamed here; drawn by the abundance of game and
1-11     water,  nomadic Tonkawa and Comanche Indians hunted the area, and
1-12     several early burial mounds have been found marking their presence;
1-13     and
1-14           WHEREAS, In 1854 Robert Carter and his family settled in the
1-15     area, and the town of Hamilton was soon established; the Texas
1-16     Legislature officially marked the boundaries for the county in
1-17     1856, and two years later Hamilton was made the county seat; and
1-18           WHEREAS, The same conditions that provided for so many deer
1-19     and buffalo have also provided for county ranchers, who long ago
1-20     recognized the grazing potential of Hamilton County's fertile river
1-21     valleys; and
1-22           WHEREAS,  This prosperous county has long based much of its
1-23     fortune on agriculture, primarily ranching and dairy ventures
1-24     teamed with cotton and grain farming; today, more than $30 million
 2-1     in revenue is generated by Hamilton County farmers and ranchers,
 2-2     though wood, steel, and garment industries are growing in
 2-3     importance; and
 2-4           WHEREAS, Area residents have given admirable support to
 2-5     education, and the Evant, Cransfill Gap, and Hico schools are all
 2-6     rated  as "Recognized" districts by the Texas Education Agency, as
 2-7     is the campus of Hamilton High School, which also won the Lone Star
 2-8     Cup given to the top 2A school in the state for its outstanding
 2-9     excellence in academic and athletic competition; and
2-10           WHEREAS, Hamilton County offers residents and visitors alike
2-11     a great deal to see and do, from "Billy the Kid Day" in April at
2-12     Hico's Billy the Kid Museum, to Hamilton's Dove Festival, which
2-13     recognizes the town's status as the Dove Capital of Texas each
2-14     September; and
2-15           WHEREAS, With friendly residents rooted deeply in Texas
2-16     tradition, burgeoning industries, and quality schools, Hamilton
2-17     County is a great place in which to live, work, and raise a family,
2-18     and it is justly fitting to recognize its many attributes at this
2-19     time; now, therefore, be it
2-20           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
2-21     Legislature hereby recognize March 15, 1999, as Hamilton County Day
2-22     at the Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the delegation of
2-23     residents who are visiting on this day.
                                                                   Lengefeld
                                             _______________________________
                                                   Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.R. No. 402 was adopted by the House on March
         15, 1999, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House