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