R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives takes great 1-2 pleasure in joining the citizens of Johnson County in the 1-3 celebration of Johnson County Day at the Capitol on May 13, 1999; 1-4 and 1-5 WHEREAS, Occupying 729 square miles of North Central Texas, 1-6 Johnson County was first settled by Texas Ranger Henry Briden and a 1-7 group of settlers led by D. Smith and W. Meadows on Chambers Creek 1-8 in 1852; and 1-9 WHEREAS, In 1856 the first permanent farm was begun by Judge 1-10 McKinsey after he saw the area on a horseback ride and was so 1-11 pleased with the potential for farming; and 1-12 WHEREAS, During the Texas fight for independence, the 1-13 territory of Johnson County was composed of the Mexican 1-14 Municipality of Milam; upon Texas' gaining her independence, 1-15 Johnson County became part of Milam County, then McLennan County, 1-16 and later, by Act of the 1854 Legislature, achieved its own 1-17 independence and distinct name; and 1-18 WHEREAS, The 1854 Legislature named the county after a brave 1-19 pioneer, Colonel Middleton T. Johnson, who served with distinction 1-20 under the command of Zachary Taylor in the Mexican War of 1846 and 1-21 served his fellow Texans honorably in the Texas Legislature; and 1-22 WHEREAS, The Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad built 1-23 tracks through the county in 1881 and served, along with many fine 1-24 agricultural producers and small businessmen, to drive the 2-1 prosperity of the region for many years; and 2-2 WHEREAS, In addition to Cleburne, Burleson, and Joshua, 2-3 Johnson County is home to the thriving communities of Alvarado, 2-4 Briaroaks, Godley, Grandview, Keene, Rio Vista, Venus, and portions 2-5 of Mansfield and Crowley; and 2-6 WHEREAS, In 1994 the industries of mining, construction, 2-7 manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, finance, insurance, real 2-8 estate, and other services were responsible for over $1.2 million 2-9 of gross sales in Johnson County, a 15.4 percent increase over the 2-10 previous year; and 2-11 WHEREAS, Johnson County is home to many fine civic and 2-12 religious organizations that represent a diverse collection of 2-13 denominations and volunteer causes; and 2-14 WHEREAS, Johnson County is adorned with a stately county 2-15 courthouse located in Cleburne, Texas, that has served the people 2-16 of Johnson County since 1913; and 2-17 WHEREAS, Johnson County boasts of Southwestern Adventist 2-18 University and a campus of Hill Junior College, two fine 2-19 institutions of postsecondary education; and 2-20 WHEREAS, Johnson County features several beautiful 2-21 recreational areas such as Cleburne State Park, Lake Pat Cleburne, 2-22 and Hams Creek; now, therefore, be it 2-23 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas 2-24 Legislature hereby recognize May 13, 1999, as Johnson County Day at 2-25 the Capitol and join with the citizens of Johnson County in paying 2-26 tribute to one of Texas' finest counties; and, be it further 2-27 RESOLVED, Than an official copy of this resolution be 3-1 prepared for Johnson County as a commemoration of this grand 3-2 occasion and as an expression of highest regard by the Texas House 3-3 of Representatives. Wohlgemuth _______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 923 was adopted by the House on May 13, 1999, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House