1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 552 1-3 WHEREAS, On April 14, 1999, Washington County Day will be 1-4 celebrated by the proud citizens of that illustrious county in 1-5 recognition of the area's many significant contributions to the 1-6 State of Texas; and 1-7 WHEREAS, Located in southeast Central Texas, 1-8 Washington County has an area of 611 square miles drained 1-9 principally by the Brazos River, and its picturesque rolling 1-10 terrain includes the prairie and post oak belts; and 1-11 WHEREAS, The county, revered as the "Birthplace of Texas," 1-12 was created in 1836 and organized the following year and is 1-13 renowned as the location of Washington-on-the-Brazos, which was 1-14 established in 1834 near the location of a ferry that had been 1-15 continuously operated on the Brazos River since 1822; a "must see" 1-16 for Texas history buffs, Washington-on-the-Brazos achieved 1-17 prominence during the Texas Revolution as the site of the signing 1-18 of the Texas Declaration of Independence and the drafting of the 1-19 constitution of the newly born Republic of Texas; and 1-20 WHEREAS, Modern-day Washington County boasts a thriving 1-21 economy based primarily on manufacturing, agriculture, and 1-22 agribusiness, as well as a flourishing tourism industry; and 1-23 WHEREAS, The county seat of Brenham is home to the celebrated 1-24 Blue Bell Creameries, whose ice cream has delighted Texans for 2-1 generations, and Blinn Junior College, home of the back-to-back 2-2 National Football Championship team the Buccaneers; and 2-3 WHEREAS, Washington County has many stellar attractions to 2-4 offer both tourists and residents alike; Somerville Lake provides 2-5 some of the finest hunting and fishing to be found in the state 2-6 today, and colorful bluebonnet trails dot the highways and byways 2-7 during the springtime; and 2-8 WHEREAS, A number of the state's most unique and 2-9 enjoyable festivals also take place in Washington County; the 2-10 Washington County Fair is the oldest county fair in Texas and the 2-11 town of Chappell Hill hosts the popular Bluebonnet Festival in 2-12 the spring and Scarecrow Festival each fall; and 2-13 WHEREAS, Other notable celebrations occurring in 2-14 Washington County include the Burton Cotton Gin Festival and 2-15 Brenham's Maifest, an annual event honoring the area's proud 2-16 German heritage; and 2-17 WHEREAS, Washington County has long been regarded as a hotbed 2-18 of athletic excellence in the sport of baseball and the exceptional 2-19 success of local players has inspired many other area athletes into 2-20 taking up the bat and glove; and 2-21 WHEREAS, Adding to the rich cultural heritage of the area 2-22 are Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park, the Burton Cotton Gin 2-23 and Museum, the Texas Baptist Historical Museum, the Star of the 2-24 Republic Museum, Brenham Heritage Museum, as well as many other 2-25 notable historic sites; and 2-26 WHEREAS, Preeminent among the county's finest assets are its 3-1 friendly and hospitable citizens, who have gone to great lengths to 3-2 make this lovely region a county that they are proud to call home; 3-3 and 3-4 WHEREAS, Renowned for Blue Bell, baseball, bluebonnets, bed 3-5 and breakfasts, and the Birthplace of Texas, Washington County is 3-6 truly one of the state's most outstanding counties, and the efforts 3-7 of its residents in preserving its unique beauty and heritage truly 3-8 merit special praise and recognition; now, therefore, be it 3-9 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 3-10 76th Legislature, hereby designate April 14, 1999, as 3-11 Washington County Day and offer sincere best wishes to the 3-12 county's fine citizens for a memorable and joyous celebration; 3-13 and, be it further 3-14 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be prepared 3-15 for Washington County as a memento of this special day. 3-16 Ogden 3-17 Armbrister Gallegos Nixon 3-18 Barrientos Harris Ratliff 3-19 Bernsen Haywood Shapiro 3-20 Bivins Jackson Shapleigh 3-21 Brown Lindsay Sibley 3-22 Cain Lucio Truan 3-23 Carona Luna Wentworth 3-24 Duncan Madla West 3-25 Ellis Moncrief Whitmire 3-26 Fraser Nelson Zaffirini 3-27 Perry, President of the Senate 3-28 ______________________________________ 3-29 President of the Senate 3-30 I hereby certify that the above 3-31 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 3-32 on April 14, 1999. 3-33 ______________________________________ 3-34 Secretary of the Senate 3-35 ______________________________________ 3-36 Member, Texas Senate