R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Many proud residents of Upshur County will gather in 1-2 Austin on April 20, 1999, to celebrate Upshur County Day at the 1-3 State Capitol, and this festive event offers an ideal opportunity 1-4 to recognize the county's many fine attributes; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Created from Harrison and Nacogdoches counties in 1-6 1846 by the First Texas Legislature, the county was named for 1-7 United States Secretary of State Able P. Upshur, and boasts a 1-8 majestically wooded and gently rolling landscape that is among the 1-9 most picturesque in the state; and 1-10 WHEREAS, Bordered partly by Cypress Creek on the northeast 1-11 and by the Sabine River on the southwest, the county has fertile 1-12 soil that supports a variety of agricultural products, such as hay, 1-13 peaches, cotton, sugar cane, and sweet potatoes; poultry, beef and 1-14 dairy cattle, and timber are also important mainstays of the local 1-15 economy; and 1-16 WHEREAS, In addition, Upshur County is home to a diversified 1-17 group of industries and businesses, including those involved with 1-18 the production of petroleum, natural gas, sand, gravel, conduit 1-19 pipe, and pottery, and in recent years, a major mail order 1-20 needlecraft industry has been developed; and 1-21 WHEREAS, The county seat of Gilmer, which celebrated its 1-22 sesquicentennial last year, offers residents a high quality of life 1-23 and was designated a Main Street City in 1997; Gilmer hosts the 1-24 annual East Texas Yamboree each October and "the biggest homecoming 2-1 in Texas" attracts visitors not only from the Lone Star State, but 2-2 from many neighboring states as well; and 2-3 WHEREAS, In addition to Gilmer, incorporated cities include 2-4 Big Sandy, East Mountain, Ore City, and Union Grove, with numerous 2-5 other communities situated throughout the county; volunteers 2-6 maintain 18 fire departments in Upshur County, and independent 2-7 school districts are located in Big Sandy, Gilmer, Harmony, New 2-8 Diana, Ore City, Union Grove, and Union Hill; and 2-9 WHEREAS, The citizenry of Upshur County possess a unique 2-10 heritage and a bright and promising future, and they are indeed 2-11 deserving of special praise and recognition for the exceptional 2-12 contributions they have made throughout the years to the Lone Star 2-13 State; now, therefore, be it 2-14 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas 2-15 Legislature hereby recognize April 20, 1999, as Upshur County Day 2-16 at the State Capitol and extend warmest best wishes to all Upshur 2-17 County citizens on this noteworthy occasion; and, be it further 2-18 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-19 prepared for the Upshur County delegation as an expression of high 2-20 regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Glaze _______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 633 was adopted by the House on April 20, 1999, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House