By King of Parker H.C.R. No. 145 77R6849 MMS-D HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, Many proud citizens of Parker County are visiting 1-2 the State Capitol on February 26, 2001, to celebrate the prominent 1-3 role this North Central Texas county has played in the annals of 1-4 our state; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Created by the Texas Legislature in 1855, the county 1-6 was named for pioneer and state representative Isaac Parker; 1-7 Mr. Parker was the uncle of Cynthia Ann Parker, who was kidnapped 1-8 by Indians during the Texas Revolution; raised among the Comanches, 1-9 she eventually became the mother of the great chief Quanah Parker; 1-10 and 1-11 WHEREAS, When settlers began moving into Parker County in the 1-12 1840s, the area was the domain of the Comanches and Kiowas; the 1-13 county retained its frontier character for a number of years, with 1-14 Indian raids continuing into the 1870s; during these raids farming 1-15 and ranching families would take refuge in Weatherford, the county 1-16 seat; and 1-17 WHEREAS, Evidence of the past is readily evident in 1-18 Weatherford, whose town square is dominated by the imposing 1886 1-19 Parker County Courthouse; designated a Texas Main Street City by 1-20 the Texas Historical Commission, Weatherford has undertaken an 1-21 intensive program of historic preservation in its downtown 1-22 district; and 1-23 WHEREAS, Parker County citizen Oliver Loving, the famed 1-24 cattleman who gave his name to the Goodnight-Loving Trail and who 2-1 was the inspiration for the book Lonesome Dove, is buried in 2-2 Weatherford's Greenwood Cemetery; the cemetery is also the resting 2-3 place of Mary Martin, renowned star of musical theater and a 2-4 Weatherford native; and 2-5 WHEREAS, Recognized as the "Cutting Horse Capital of the 2-6 World," Weatherford is famed among "cutters" across the country, 2-7 who send their horses there to be trained and bred; home not only 2-8 to numerous trainers but also to many hall-of-fame horses, the city 2-9 boasts a breathtaking, life-sized bronze statue of a cutting horse 2-10 outside the restored Santa Fe depot; and 2-11 WHEREAS, Today the Parker County economy is powered by 2-12 agribusiness, manufacturing, and tourism; agricultural products 2-13 include beef cattle, dairy cows, horses, peanuts, watermelons, 2-14 pecans, and peaches; Parker County watermelons took the world prize 2-15 for weight at the 1904 World's Fair, and by 1925 Weatherford 2-16 shipped more watermelons than any other place in the country; the 2-17 largest pecan tree in the United States, some 900 to 1,100 years 2-18 old, stands in Weatherford; and 2-19 WHEREAS, Tourist attractions in Parker County include 2-20 Frontier Days in June, the Peach Festival in July, and First Monday 2-21 Trade Days throughout the year; Lake Mineral Wells State Park is a 2-22 popular destination for outdoors enthusiasts; and 2-23 WHEREAS, Parker County holds a notable place in Texas 2-24 frontier history and in the development of the Lone Star State, and 2-25 its citizens are proudly preserving and building on this 2-26 outstanding legacy; it is thus a great pleasure to welcome the 2-27 delegation with us today and to commend their public spirit and 3-1 their eminent contributions; now, therefore, be it 3-2 RESOLVED, That the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas 3-3 hereby designate February 26, 2001, as Parker County Day at the 3-4 State Capitol and extend to this delegation sincere best wishes for 3-5 an enjoyable and memorable visit.