By Wohlgemuth                                          H.R. No. 923
         Line and page numbers may not match official copy.
         Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.
                                 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
 2-1     tracks through the county in 1881 and served, along with many fine
 2-2     agricultural producers and small businessmen, to drive the
 2-3     prosperity of the region for many years;
 2-4           WHEREAS, In addition to Cleburne, Burleson, and Joshua,
 2-5     Johnson County is home to the thriving communities of Alvarado,
 2-6     Briaroaks, Godley, Grandview, Keene, Rio Vista, Venus, and portions
 2-7     of Mansfield and Crowley; and
 2-8           WHEREAS, In 1994 the industries of mining, construction,
 2-9     manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, finance, insurance, real
2-10     estate, and other services were responsible for over $1.2 million
2-11     of gross sales in Johnson County, a 15.4 percent increase over the
2-12     previous year; and
2-13           WHEREAS, Johnson County is home to many fine civic and
2-14     religious organizations that represent a diverse collection of
2-15     denominations and volunteer causes; and
2-16           WHEREAS, Johnson County is adorned with a stately county
2-17     courthouse located in Cleburne, Texas that has served the people of
2-18     Johnson County since 1913; and
2-19           WHEREAS, Johnson County boasts of Southwestern Adventist
2-20     University and a campus of Hill Junior College, two fine
2-21     institutions of postsecondary education; and
2-22           WHEREAS, Johnson County features several beautiful
2-23     recreational areas such as Cleburne State Park, Lake Pat Cleburne,
2-24     and Hams Creek; therefore, be it
2-25           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
2-26     Legislature hereby recognize May 13, 1999, as Johnson County Day at
 3-1     the Capitol and join with the citizens of Johnson County in paying
 3-2     tribute to one of Texas' finest counties; and, be it further
 3-3           RESOLVED, Than an official copy of this resolution be
 3-4     prepared for Johnson County as a commemoration of this grand
 3-5     occasion and as an expression of highest regard by the Texas House
 3-6     of Representatives.