R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, On February 27, 2001, Fayette County citizens are 1-2 celebrating the many contributions this fine county has made to the 1-3 State of Texas; and 1-4 WHEREAS, Fayette County, which includes the charming towns of 1-5 La Grange, Schulenburg, Flatonia, Ledbetter, Fayetteville, Round 1-6 Top, Carmine, Ellinger, Engle, High Hill, Dubina, Ammannsville, 1-7 Hostyn, Praha, Swiss Alps, Freyburg, Cistern, Holman, Kirtley, 1-8 Nechanitz, Plum, Muldoon, Oldenburg, O'Quinn, Rek Hill, 1-9 Rutersville, St. John, Waldeck, Walhalla, Warda, Warrenton, West 1-10 Point, Willow Springs, Winchester, and Winedale, is situated in the 1-11 heart of South Central Texas and has been blessed with some of the 1-12 state's most picturesque landscapes: gently rolling hills, steep 1-13 bluffs, vivid wildflowers, rich farmland, and dense forests 1-14 threaded by the Colorado River; and 1-15 WHEREAS, Tonkawas, Comanches, and more than 13 other Indian 1-16 tribes traded and pursued buffalo here; German and Czech 1-17 communities were established in the 1840s and 1850s, and their 1-18 influence is still felt throughout the area; and 1-19 WHEREAS, Organized on December 14, 1837, Fayette County was 1-20 named for the Marquis de Lafayette, who aided the American 1-21 colonists in their struggle for independence; in 1838 the Texas 1-22 Congress approved a site near La Grange as the location for the new 1-23 capital, but the choice was rejected by President Sam Houston; and 1-24 WHEREAS, A legion of notable individuals have lived or left 2-1 their footprints in Fayette County, and today's residents are proud 2-2 to claim an association with such figures as John W. Dancy, Samuel 2-3 Walker, Byrd Lockhart, Stephen F. Austin, Big Foot Wallace, William 2-4 G. Webb, Mary Maverick, Thomas Green, Temple Houston, David 2-5 Crockett, Mirabeau B. Lamar, La Salle, Alonso de Leon, R. E. B. 2-6 Baylor, Robert S. Neighbors, and John H. Moore; and 2-7 WHEREAS, The settlement of Fayette County has been the work 2-8 of people from many different backgrounds, all of whom aspired to a 2-9 brighter future; among them were Spaniards, Mexicans, and African 2-10 Americans, as well as those of Irish, Scottish, French, German, and 2-11 Czech descent; and 2-12 WHEREAS, Fayette County is an integral part of the Texas 2-13 Independence Trail, a project of the Texas Historical Commission; 2-14 winding through 28 counties, this route traverses land that 2-15 witnessed the Texas Revolution and formative events of the Texas 2-16 Republic; prominent Fayette County sites within the trail region 2-17 include the restored home of Nathaniel W. Faison, a volunteer 2-18 soldier captured during the 1842 Mexican invasion of Texas and a 2-19 survivor of Mexico's Perote prison, and Monument Hill, tomb of 2-20 Faison's compatriots who fell at the battle of Salado Creek and 2-21 also the grave of executed members of the Mier expedition; and 2-22 WHEREAS, Tradition is strong in Fayette County, where 2-23 citizens share the patriotism of early residents and have also kept 2-24 alive their deep faith; the congregations of many historic churches 2-25 are active yet today, and the beauty of their buildings lends a 2-26 graceful serenity to the countryside; especially renowned are the 2-27 Painted Churches of Ammannsville, Dubina, High Hill, and Praha; the 3-1 tiny Catholic church in Warrenton, the venerable Methodist church 3-2 in Freyburg, the Lutheran church in Swiss Alps, and St. James 3-3 Episcopal Church in La Grange; and 3-4 WHEREAS, Residents and visitors of all ages delight in the 3-5 many parish feasts and in such celebrations as the Fayette County 3-6 Country Fair, Czhilispiel, Lickskillet, the Antiques Festival, the 3-7 Schulenburg Festival, and the Round Top Fourth of July Parade, said 3-8 to be the oldest such parade west of the Mississippi; and 3-9 WHEREAS, Fayette Lake, the Colorado River, and a variety of 3-10 recreational facilities offer ample opportunity for fishing, 3-11 boating, hiking, golfing, and many other sports; for bicycle riders 3-12 who participate in the MS-150, a ride from Houston to Austin to 3-13 raise funds for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the route 3-14 through Fayette County offers some of the most rewarding scenery of 3-15 the event; and 3-16 WHEREAS, In addition to tourism and recreation, other 3-17 important sectors of the Fayette County economy include oil, light 3-18 industry, the production of electricity, and the mining of 3-19 construction gravel, clays, and fuller's earth; long a leader in 3-20 the state's agricultural production, the county ships the bounty of 3-21 its farms and ranches throughout the world; and 3-22 WHEREAS, The dynamic economy supports an outstanding 3-23 educational system, one that provides a solid foundation for those 3-24 going on to further education or into the skilled workforce; county 3-25 residents also benefit from an incomparable medical support team 3-26 and are looking forward to the construction of a new hospital; and 3-27 WHEREAS, Today's Fayette County citizens are enriched by the 4-1 cultures bequeathed them by successive waves of settlers and stand 4-2 proud in the knowledge that they are honoring and passing on to 4-3 future generations the best of this inheritance; it is a great 4-4 pleasure, therefore, to join with these worthy Texans in 4-5 celebrating the rich and vital heritage of Fayette County and the 4-6 myriad roles its people have played in building the Lone Star 4-7 State; now, therefore, be it 4-8 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 4-9 Legislature hereby welcome the distinguished delegation of Fayette 4-10 County residents visiting on this day and recognize February 27, 4-11 2001, as Fayette County Day at the State Capitol. Cook _______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 137 was adopted by the House on February 27, 2001, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House