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