1-1                                     1
 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 476
 1-3           WHEREAS, The Texas Senate takes pleasure in welcoming the
 1-4     proud citizens of Beaumont to Austin, Texas, on March 25, 1999,
 1-5     as the group celebrates Beaumont Day at the State Capitol; and
 1-6           WHEREAS, The county seat of Jefferson County, Beaumont is
 1-7     located on the Neches River, where it is an industrial inland port
 1-8     which is one of the state's largest handlers of ship tonnage; the
 1-9     city is also the site of one of the world's largest petrochemical
1-10     and refining complexes; and
1-11           WHEREAS, In 1835, one of the town's organizers, Henry Millard,
1-12     bought 50 acres for a townsite and called it Beaumont, for beautiful
1-13     mountain; some of the first early industries were lumber products,
1-14     rice farming, and cattle ranching; and
1-15           WHEREAS, Settlement was fairly rapid, and the port of Beaumont
1-16     became the shipping center for cattle, sugar cane, and cotton; on
1-17     January 10, 1901, oil was discovered at Spindletop and the town
1-18     was changed; Spindletop created the first Texas boomtown and a new
1-19     energy industry was born; 600 oil companies were formed during
1-20     the boom, some of which became Texaco, Gulf, and Humble; and
1-21           WHEREAS, Beaumont has many thriving industries, including
1-22     rice, soybeans, wheat, grain sorghum, precision industrial
1-23     equipment, and medical instruments; and
1-24           WHEREAS, Colored by the culture of neighboring Louisiana,
 2-1     Beaumont has a Cajun influence in some of its cuisine, and the mix
 2-2     of cultures present in the city add greatly to its interest to both
 2-3     tourists and residents; and
 2-4           WHEREAS, The fascinating city holds recreational and outdoor
 2-5     opportunities; it is located near the Big Thicket National Preserve,
 2-6     and the fortunate placement of the town puts it near beaches, lakes,
 2-7     parks, and marshlands; and
 2-8           WHEREAS, Beaumont is known as the Museum Capital of Texas,
 2-9     and it has 24 museums throughout the city; the Art Museum of
2-10     Southeast Texas has fine art, sculpture courtyards, and an art
2-11     library, while the Texas Energy Museum houses the Western Company
2-12     of Fort Worth and the Lamar University Spindletop collections; and
2-13           WHEREAS, Among other attractions of the city are the
2-14     McFaddin-Ward House, one of the few restored colonial Beaux-Arts
2-15     mansions in the country; there is also the oldest surviving
2-16     residence in Beaumont, the John Jay French Museum, which was built
2-17     in 1845; it has been carefully restored by the heritage society in
2-18     the city; and
2-19           WHEREAS, Noted for its vigorous and enthusiastic citizenry,
2-20     Beaumont takes justifiable pride in its past and looks forward to
2-21     its promising future; now, therefore, be it
2-22           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
2-23     76th Legislature, hereby proclaim March 25, 1999, as Beaumont Day
2-24     at the State Capitol and extend a hearty welcome to the citizens
2-25     from Beaumont; and, be it further
2-26           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared as an
 3-1     expression of the admiration and esteem of the Texas Senate.
 3-2                                                    Bernsen
 3-3           Armbrister           Harris              Ogden
 3-4           Barrientos           Haywood             Ratliff
 3-5           Bivins               Jackson             Shapiro
 3-6           Brown                Lindsay             Shapleigh
 3-7           Cain                 Lucio               Sibley
 3-8           Carona               Luna                Truan
 3-9           Duncan               Madla               Wentworth
3-10           Ellis                Moncrief            West
3-11           Fraser               Nelson              Whitmire
3-12           Gallegos             Nixon               Zaffirini
3-13                       Perry, President of the Senate
3-14                                  ______________________________________
3-15                                          President of the Senate
3-16                                       I hereby certify that the above
3-17                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
3-18                                  on March 25, 1999.
3-19                                  ______________________________________
3-20                                          Secretary of the Senate
3-21                                  ______________________________________
3-22                                           Member, Texas Senate