R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to join 1-2 the citizens of Port Arthur in the joyous celebration of Port 1-3 Arthur Day at the State Capitol on February 5, 2001; and 1-4 WHEREAS, Arthur E. Stilwell, railroad promoter and the town's 1-5 namesake, founded the city in 1895, and it proved to be ideally 1-6 suited to serve as both a commercial seaport and a tourist 1-7 destination; Mr. Stilwell's expansive vision for the city was 1-8 secured in 1901 when the nearby Spindletop eruption ushered in the 1-9 state's first oil-field boom, and the year 2001 marks the 100th 1-10 anniversary of that momentous event; and 1-11 WHEREAS, Located nine miles from the Gulf of Mexico in 1-12 Jefferson County, Port Arthur has long been identified with the oil 1-13 and petrochemical industries that formed one of the bases of the 1-14 state's economy; blessed with many natural resources, a moderate 1-15 climate, superb recreational opportunities, and outstanding 1-16 educational and medical institutions, the city of Port Arthur is 1-17 attracting new industries to Southeast Texas by providing an 1-18 increasingly attractive quality of life for its residents; and 1-19 WHEREAS, Enhancing the city's vitality are the many students 1-20 attending its fine institution of higher learning, Lamar 1-21 University--Port Arthur, founded in 1909 as Port Arthur College; 1-22 and 1-23 WHEREAS, Festivals, tournaments, parades, concerts, and other 1-24 gala celebrations of the community's colorful history and cultural 2-1 heritage abound throughout the area year-round; the city has become 2-2 especially well known for its popular annual Mardi Gras festivities 2-3 as well as for the Chinese/Vietnamese New Year and the Janis Joplin 2-4 Birthday Bash; and 2-5 WHEREAS, The chambers of commerce in Southeast Texas have 2-6 formed a coalition, the Jefferson County Chambers of Commerce 2-7 Legislative Response Team, that includes various Jefferson County 2-8 offices and officials, along with the chambers in Port Arthur, 2-9 Beaumont, Groves, Nederland, and Port Neches, and that is hosting 2-10 the first Jefferson County Breakfast on February 6, 2001, at the 2-11 Driskill Hotel; and 2-12 WHEREAS, It is truly appropriate to take the opportunity 2-13 presented by these noteworthy legislative events to honor this fine 2-14 Texas city and its people; now, therefore, be it 2-15 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 2-16 Legislature hereby recognize February 5, 2001, as Port Arthur Day 2-17 at the State Capitol and welcome the community's visiting 2-18 delegation. Deshotel _______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 180 was adopted by the House on February 5, 2001, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House