By Chisum H.R. No. 1353 76R18146 WMS-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The year 1999 marks the 80th anniversary of the 1-2 founding of Booker, Texas, and it is most appropriate that the 1-3 members of this body join with the town's residents in 1-4 commemorating this auspicious occasion; and 1-5 WHEREAS, From September 2 to September 6, 1999, the city will 1-6 celebrate this significant milestone in its rich history with a 1-7 variety of exciting activities, including a pep rally and bonfire, 1-8 homecoming parade, watermelon feed, fireworks display, and 1-9 nine-hole golf scramble; and 1-10 WHEREAS, The city of Booker is located in Lipscomb County 1-11 and was platted in 1917 by Thomas C. Spearman, but was not 1-12 officially founded until 1919 when the first train arrived; the 1-13 town's ties to the Santa Fe railroad were significant, and the city 1-14 takes its name from a Santa Fe railroad official, B. F. Booker; and 1-15 WHEREAS, By 1920 the town had grain elevators, 1-16 cattle-shipping pens, a bank, a school, and three churches, and by 1-17 the end of the decade modern utilities had been installed; and 1-18 WHEREAS, The Great Depression and Dust Bowl brought 1-19 considerable hardship to Booker, but its citizens remained 1-20 undaunted and prosperity soon returned with the advent of 1-21 agricultural recovery, new farming techniques, and oil exploration; 1-22 and 1-23 WHEREAS, Now extending into Ochiltree County, the city of 1-24 Booker boasts a total of 92 businesses, including the Teare 2-1 Memorial Medical Clinic, and a population of more than 1,200 2-2 residents; and 2-3 WHEREAS, A great source of community pride is the Booker High 2-4 School girls' golf team, which won eight consecutive state 2-5 championships from 1986 to 1993; the town's junior and senior high 2-6 schools' athletic teams are named the Kiowas, and in 1990 the Kiowa 2-7 Nation officially adopted the school district into its membership; 2-8 and 2-9 WHEREAS, From the time of its founding in 1919, Booker has 2-10 been home to many fine Texans who have exemplified the qualities of 2-11 leadership and commitment; their efforts have made their community 2-12 an ideal place in which to live, work, and raise a family, and it 2-13 is indeed fitting that they be honored at this time; now, 2-14 therefore, be it 2-15 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas 2-16 Legislature hereby recognize the city of Booker on the 80th 2-17 anniversary of its founding and extend to all its residents sincere 2-18 best wishes for continued prosperity in the future; and, be it 2-19 further 2-20 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-21 prepared for the citizens of Booker as an expression of high regard 2-22 by the Texas House of Representatives.