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.