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