By Homer H.R. No. 489 76R9662 JBR-F R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is pleased to 1-2 join the citizens of Fannin County on March 22, 1999, in a joyous 1-3 celebration of Fannin County Day at the State Capitol; and 1-4 WHEREAS, Located in Northeast Texas along the Red River 1-5 Valley, Fannin County was the first original county created in 1837 1-6 by the Congress of the Republic of Texas from Red River County; and 1-7 WHEREAS, The county once consisted of land including all or 1-8 parts of 26 present-day counties, spanning more than 350 miles; 1-9 Fannin County was reduced in size in 1846 when its western boundary 1-10 was fixed, and its remaining 906 square miles of rich topsoil are 1-11 drained by the Red River and Bois d'Arc Creek; and 1-12 WHEREAS, Named for Colonel James Walker Fannin, the Texas 1-13 hero killed in the massacre at Goliad in 1836, the area attracted 1-14 its first permanent settlement that same year when several families 1-15 arrived to build their homes on the rolling prairie and were soon 1-16 followed by others who settled along the Red River; and 1-17 WHEREAS, The county seat is the city of Bonham, founded in 1-18 1836 by Judge Bailey Inglish, who originally named the settlement 1-19 Bois d'Arc after the native trees predominant in the area; the name 1-20 of the town was changed to Bonham in 1844 in honor of James B. 1-21 Bonham, famous messenger in the Battle of the Alamo; and 1-22 WHEREAS, Bonham is known for its favorite son, Sam Rayburn, 1-23 who began his political career in the Texas House of 1-24 Representatives, where he served one year as speaker; the 2-1 distinguished Texan later went to Washington, D.C., where he was a 2-2 congressman for 48 years and speaker of the U.S. House of 2-3 Representatives for 17 years, longer than any other individual in 2-4 history; and 2-5 WHEREAS, The Bonham Area Chamber of Commerce was established 2-6 in 1886 as the Board of Trade; renamed the chamber of commerce in 2-7 1926, it has been instrumental in bringing jobs and new residents 2-8 to Bonham and Fannin County, and it is the driving force for social 2-9 and economic change; now, therefore, be it 2-10 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas 2-11 Legislature hereby recognize March 22, 1999, as Fannin County Day 2-12 at the State Capitol and join the citizens of Fannin County in 2-13 paying tribute to this impressive Texas county; and, be it further 2-14 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-15 prepared for the delegates from Fannin County as a memento of this 2-16 grand occasion and as an expression of high regard by the Texas 2-17 House of Representatives.