1-1                                     1
 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 927
 1-3           WHEREAS, The Texas Senate takes great pleasure in joining the
 1-4     citizens of Johnson County in the celebration of Johnson County Day
 1-5     at the Capitol on May 13, 1999; and
 1-6           WHEREAS, Occupying 729 square miles of North Central Texas,
 1-7     Johnson County was first settled by Texas Ranger Henry Briden and a
 1-8     group of settlers led by D. Smith and W. Meadows near Chambers Creek
 1-9     in 1852; and
1-10           WHEREAS, In 1856 the first permanent farm was begun by
1-11     Judge McKinsey after he saw the area on a horseback ride and was
1-12     so pleased with the potential for farming; and
1-13           WHEREAS, During the Texas fight for independence, the
1-14     territory of Johnson County was composed of the Mexican Municipality
1-15     of Milam; upon Texas' gaining its independence, Johnson County
1-16     became part of Milam County, then McLennan County, and later, by
1-17     Act of the 1854 Legislature, achieved its own independence and
1-18     distinct name; and
1-19           WHEREAS, The 1854 Legislature named the county after a brave
1-20     pioneer, Colonel Middleton T. Johnson, who served with distinction
 2-1     under the command of Zachary Taylor in the Mexican War of 1846 and
 2-2     served his fellow Texans honorably in the Texas Legislature; and
 2-3           WHEREAS, The Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad built
 2-4     tracks through the county in 1881 and served, along with many
 2-5     fine agricultural producers and small businessmen, to drive the
 2-6     prosperity of the region for many years; and
 2-7           WHEREAS, In addition to Cleburne, Burleson, and Joshua,
 2-8     Johnson County is home to the thriving communities of Alvarado,
 2-9     Briaroaks, Godley, Grandview, Keene, Rio Vista, and Venus, and
2-10     portions of Mansfield and Crowley; and
2-11           WHEREAS, Johnson County's economy is fueled by the fields
2-12     of mining, construction, manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade,
2-13     finance, insurance, real estate, and other services; and
2-14           WHEREAS, Johnson County is home to many fine civic and
2-15     religious organizations that represent a diverse collection of
2-16     denominations and volunteer causes; and
2-17           WHEREAS, Johnson County is adorned with a stately county
2-18     courthouse located in Cleburne that has served the people of
2-19     Johnson County since 1913; and
2-20           WHEREAS, Johnson County boasts of Southwestern Adventist
2-21     University and a campus of Hill Junior College, two fine
2-22     institutions of postsecondary education; and
 3-1           WHEREAS, Johnson County features several beautiful
 3-2     recreational areas such as Cleburne State Park, Lake Pat Cleburne,
 3-3     and Hams Creek; now, therefore, be it
 3-4           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
 3-5     76th Legislature, hereby recognize May 13, 1999, as Johnson County
 3-6     Day at the Capitol and join the citizens of Johnson County in
 3-7     paying tribute to one of the finest counties in Texas; and, be it
 3-8     further
 3-9           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be
3-10     prepared for Johnson County as a commemoration of this grand
3-11     occasion and as an expression of highest regard from the
3-12     Texas Senate.
3-13                                                          Sibley, Harris
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 May 13, 1999.
3-19                                  ______________________________________
3-20                                          Secretary of the Senate
3-21                                  ______________________________________
3-22                                           Member, Texas Senate
3-23                                  ______________________________________
3-24                                           Member, Texas Senate