R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, Many proud residents of Brazoria County will be in
 1-2     Austin on March 23, 1999, to celebrate Brazoria County Day at the
 1-3     Capitol; and
 1-4           WHEREAS, Officially created in 1836, Brazoria County has long
 1-5     been a center of agriculture and livestock production and has more
 1-6     recently prospered in the banking, oil and gas, and chemical
 1-7     processing industries; the county has also been blessed with a
 1-8     deepwater seaport and 20 miles of natural beach; and
 1-9           WHEREAS, Located along the Gulf Coast, this geographically
1-10     diverse region was once inhabited by members of the Karankawa tribe
1-11     before being settled by Stephen F.  Austin's "Old Three Hundred" in
1-12     the early 1820s; the county is also the site of General Santa
1-13     Anna's signing of the Treaties of Velasco, which effectively
1-14     granted Texas its independence; and
1-15           WHEREAS, Home of both the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge
1-16     and the San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge, this notable Texas
1-17     county boasts some of the state's most spectacular flora and fauna
1-18     as well as excellent opportunities for hunting and fishing; and
1-19           WHEREAS, Angleton, the county seat, features the outstanding
1-20     Brazoria County Historical Museum, which is dedicated to
1-21     documenting the county's unique past and its continued growth; the
1-22     museum has several Native American exhibits and also displays an
1-23     authentic plantation bedroom; and
1-24           WHEREAS, Home of baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, Brazoria
 2-1     County is a close-knit community of nine cities; each October,
 2-2     citizens join together  to host the popular Brazoria County Fair,
 2-3     an event that attracts visitors from throughout the state and
 2-4     around the world; and
 2-5           WHEREAS, The residents of Brazoria County are justifiably
 2-6     proud of their county, for this noteworthy region and its
 2-7     exceptional citizens have played a significant role in Texas'
 2-8     development, and their many contributions to the Lone Star State
 2-9     are truly worthy of special recognition; now, therefore, be it
2-10           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
2-11     Legislature hereby recognize March 23, 1999, as Brazoria County Day
2-12     at the Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the fine citizens who
2-13     have traveled to Austin to celebrate this occasion; and, be it
2-14     further
2-15           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-16     prepared for prominent display in Brazoria County as an expression
2-17     of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.
                                                                      Bonnen
                                             _______________________________
                                                   Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.R. No. 496 was adopted by the House on March
         23, 1999, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House