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.