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