By Homer                                             H.C.R. No. 231
         77R11084 MJS-F                           
                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-1           WHEREAS, The Texas Legislature is proud to join the citizens
 1-2     of Paris, Texas, in joyous celebration of Paris-Lamar County Day at
 1-3     the Capitol on March 29, 2001; and
 1-4           WHEREAS, Located in the heart of the Red River Valley, Paris
 1-5     was founded in 1839 on the divide between the Red and Sulphur
 1-6     rivers and became the Lamar County seat five years later; and
 1-7           WHEREAS, The community was incorporated in 1845 and grew in
 1-8     importance and population as it became a railroad hub; it continues
 1-9     to play a major role in our state's economic vitality today as the
1-10     trade, medical, education, and industrial center of Northeast
1-11     Texas; and
1-12           WHEREAS, The strength of the area's economy lies in a solid
1-13     industrial base; the community is home to four major Fortune 500
1-14     manufacturers, and more than 20 percent of its labor force is
1-15     employed in the manufacturing sector; and
1-16           WHEREAS, Paris also has first-rate health care facilities
1-17     that serve Northeast Texas and a large portion of Southeastern
1-18     Oklahoma; and
1-19           WHEREAS, The community is justifiably proud of its fine
1-20     educational facilities; Paris Junior College addresses the higher
1-21     education needs of the area and has expanded its campuses to
1-22     nearby Sulphur Springs and Greenville, and Lamar County also takes
1-23     immense pride in its five outstanding public school systems; and   
1-24           WHEREAS, Paris was deemed best small city in Texas by Kevin
 2-1     Heubusch in his book The New Rating Guide to Life in America's
 2-2     Small Cities; and
 2-3           WHEREAS, The city draws many visitors who come to enjoy its
 2-4     vast array of natural and cultural resources; the second-largest
 2-5     Paris in the world, the city has benefited from the rich European
 2-6     culture of its namesake as seen in the lovely Culbertson Fountain
 2-7     in the heart of downtown; and
 2-8           WHEREAS, Holding the unofficial designation as the Crape
 2-9     Myrtle City of Texas since 1936, Paris received the official Crape
2-10     Myrtle City of Texas designation by a concurrent resolution of the
2-11     Texas House of Representatives and Senate in 1997; and
2-12           WHEREAS, Lakes Crook and Pat Mayse offer sports enthusiasts a
2-13     wide variety of recreational opportunities, while the community's
2-14     Sam Bell Maxey State Historic Structure and its many other historic
2-15     sites impart a sense of the town's vibrant heritage; and
2-16           WHEREAS, Rich in culture and tradition, Paris is a
2-17     prosperous, forward-looking community, and it gives the Texas
2-18     Legislature great pleasure to join with our fellow citizens in
2-19     saluting this fine Texas region; now, therefore, be it
2-20           RESOLVED, That the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas
2-21     hereby designate March 29, 2001, as Paris-Lamar County Day at the
2-22     Capitol and extend best wishes to all of the community's residents
2-23     on this noteworthy occasion; and, be it further
2-24           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-25     prepared for the citizens of Paris as an expression of high regard
2-26     by the Texas House of Representatives and Senate.