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