By Carter H.R. No. 228 77R5983 MMS-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Many proud residents of Tarrant County and 1-2 representatives of the Coalition of Tarrant County Chambers of 1-3 Commerce are visiting the State Capitol on February 21 and 22 in 1-4 celebration of the prominent place this county has long occupied in 1-5 the annals of Texas; and 1-6 WHEREAS, Created in 1849 and organized in 1850, the county 1-7 was named for General Edward H. Tarrant, a successful militia 1-8 officer during the Republic of Texas; Fort Worth became the county 1-9 seat in 1856; and 1-10 WHEREAS, Straddling the Grand Prairie and Blackland Prairie 1-11 and the Eastern and Western Cross Timbers, the area offered early 1-12 settlers fertile soil and abundant water; in the years after the 1-13 Civil War, cattle drives and the arrival of the railroad spurred 1-14 development; the railroads and the advent of the windmill also 1-15 encouraged a great expansion of farming during the late 19th 1-16 century; and 1-17 WHEREAS, Since World War I, when the Army Air Corps built 1-18 three airfields in the county, aviation has also been a significant 1-19 factor in the county's growth; today the Tarrant County economy is 1-20 remarkably diverse, its strong agricultural segment complemented by 1-21 manufacturing, education, tourism, and government sectors; among 1-22 the corporate giants headquartered here are American Airlines, the 1-23 Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, Radio Shack, and Pier 1; and 1-24 WHEREAS, The vitality of this dynamic county is equally 2-1 evident in its educational and cultural centers and its myriad 2-2 recreational attractions; Texas Christian University, The 2-3 University of Texas at Arlington, Southwestern Baptist Theological 2-4 Seminary, Texas Wesleyan University, and several other academic 2-5 institutions provide a wealth of programs and enroll students from 2-6 around the world; and 2-7 WHEREAS, Fort Worth's roots in the cattle industry are still 2-8 apparent in several specialized museums and in the Stockyards 2-9 National Historic District; these aspects of the city's persona 2-10 coexist comfortably with its exceptional museums for the arts: the 2-11 Kimbell Art Museum, the Amon Carter Museum, and the Modern Art 2-12 Museum of Fort Worth; and 2-13 WHEREAS, The city offers discoveries of a still different 2-14 kind at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, Fort Worth 2-15 Nature Center and Refuge, Fort Worth Zoo, and the Fort Worth 2-16 Botanic Garden; at the end of the day, the Sundance Square Downtown 2-17 Entertainment District, a vibrant 14-block urban center, draws 2-18 throngs of people to its restaurants, theaters, cinemas, and 2-19 live-music venues; and 2-20 WHEREAS, Nearby Arlington is famed as the location of Six 2-21 Flags Over Texas and the home stadium of the Texas Rangers; the 2-22 baseball museum at the Rangers' ballpark and the science center on 2-23 the banks of the Trinity River feature sophisticated, interactive 2-24 exhibits for the whole family; and 2-25 WHEREAS, The flourishing condition of Tarrant County is due 2-26 in no small measure to the Coalition of Tarrant County Chambers of 2-27 Commerce, a consortium of 23 chambers representing more than 7,500 3-1 businesses throughout the county; the coalition supports public 3-2 policy initiatives that meet the needs of employers, employees, 3-3 clients, and customers, while building productive partnerships 3-4 between the business community and local, state, and federal 3-5 governments to foster positive growth; and 3-6 WHEREAS, The members of the Coalition of Tarrant County 3-7 Chambers of Commerce and the citizens of Tarrant County are to be 3-8 congratulated on their success in preserving and enhancing the 3-9 assets of this crucial region; known as "Where the West Begins," 3-10 Tarrant County has been a leading force in the state's development 3-11 and today contributes in a multitude of ways to the richness of the 3-12 Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it 3-13 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 3-14 Legislature hereby recognize February 21 and 22, 2001, as Tarrant 3-15 County Days at the State Capitol and extend to all the citizens of 3-16 this county sincere best wishes for success in their many 3-17 endeavors; and, be it further 3-18 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-19 prepared for the Coalition of Tarrant County Chambers of Commerce 3-20 as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of 3-21 Representatives.