By Pitts                                              H.C.R. No. 95
         77R4928 MDM-D                           
                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-1           WHEREAS, Many proud residents of Ellis County are gathered in
 1-2     Austin to celebrate Ellis County Day at the State Capitol, and this
 1-3     festive event offers an ideal opportunity to recognize the county's
 1-4     many fine attributes; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, Located in North Central Texas and including the
 1-6     rich soils of the Blackland Belt, the 953 square miles of Ellis
 1-7     County landscape vary from gently rolling terrain to a level plain;
 1-8     and
 1-9           WHEREAS, Created by the state legislature in 1849, Ellis
1-10     County takes its name from Richard Ellis, president of the
1-11     convention that declared Texas' independence from Mexico; in 1850
1-12     the first Ellis County Court authorized an expenditure of $59 for
1-13     the construction of a courthouse; that structure was replaced in
1-14     1895 with an elaborate red sandstone and granite building still in
1-15     use today and celebrated as one of the most beautiful historic
1-16     public buildings in Texas; and
1-17           WHEREAS, The arrival of the railroad in 1871 stimulated
1-18     agricultural production, and in the early 20th century Ellis County
1-19     ranked as one of the chief cotton-growing areas in the country;
1-20     today the county's diversified economy rests on agribusiness,
1-21     commerce, and industry; the city of Midlothian, home to such firms
1-22     as Chapparral Steel Company, Texas Industries, Holnam Texas, and
1-23     North Texas Cement Company, has been designated the Cement and
1-24     Steel Capital of Texas; and
 2-1           WHEREAS, The people of Ellis County, eager to preserve their
 2-2     heritage, have begun the process of restoring many historic homes
 2-3     and landmarks to their original grandeur, and a number of
 2-4     communities have participated in the Texas Main Street Project, a
 2-5     program to rehabilitate and revitalize historic downtown and
 2-6     commercial districts; and
 2-7           WHEREAS, Waxahachie, the county seat, is affectionately known
 2-8     as the Gingerbread City because of its lovingly maintained
 2-9     Victorian homes, many of them framed by the colorful trees and
2-10     shrubs that have also caused the town to be known as the Crape
2-11     Myrtle Capital of Texas; and
2-12           WHEREAS, Waxahachie is home as well to one of the few
2-13     remaining Chautauqua auditoriums; constructed at the dawn of the
2-14     20th century, the hall hosted cultural and religious events and
2-15     continues to draw thousands of visitors each year; and
2-16           WHEREAS, Ennis, situated in the eastern part of the county,
2-17     was designated the Bluebonnet Capital of Texas by the Texas
2-18     Legislature in 1997; a cultural center for descendants of Czech
2-19     farmers who first settled on the Blackland Prairie in 1875, Ennis
2-20     is the site of the National Polka Festival, as well as the Texas
2-21     Motorplex, a professional and amateur track that offers world-class
2-22     auto racing; and
2-23           WHEREAS, Ennis's progressive economic environment has
2-24     attracted industries such as Sterilite Corporation, Elk Roofing,
2-25     Leggett & Platt, Inc., Atlas Soundolier, and Ennis Steel
2-26     Industries, Inc., and a state-of-the-art power plant,
2-27     Ennis-Tractebel Electricity and Gas International, is under
 3-1     construction; and
 3-2           WHEREAS, The other charming towns of Ellis County balance the
 3-3     charm and comfort of small-town life with convenient access to
 3-4     downtown Dallas and the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport;
 3-5     and
 3-6           WHEREAS, For several decades, prime movie locations in Ellis
 3-7     County have drawn film production crews, and the Los Angeles Film
 3-8     Makers Association has recognized Waxahachie as "The Best Little
 3-9     Hollywood in Texas" and as "Vintage America in Mint Condition"; and
3-10           WHEREAS, Visitors and residents alike can learn about the
3-11     region's past while touring the Ellis County Museum, the Railroad
3-12     and Cultural Heritage Museum, and the Larkin Newton Cabin, all of
3-13     which showcase myriad antiques and artifacts that tell the
3-14     captivating story of Ellis County; and
3-15           WHEREAS, Ellis County is one of the Lone Star State's great
3-16     assets, and even as its dynamic citizens reflect with satisfaction
3-17     on their proud accomplishments, they can also look forward with
3-18     anticipation to the new challenges and opportunities that lie
3-19     ahead; now, therefore, be it
3-20           RESOLVED, That the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas
3-21     hereby recognize February 28, 2001, as Ellis County Day at the
3-22     State Capitol and extend best wishes to all Ellis County citizens
3-23     for a bright and prosperous future.