R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, On March 16, 2001, the Family Land Heritage program
 1-2     of the Texas Department of Agriculture is recognizing the farm
 1-3     established by Benjamin Bryant Beaird as a Family Land Heritage
 1-4     Farm, and this auspicious occasion provides a perfect opportunity
 1-5     to honor this enduring farm and its distinguished namesake; and
 1-6           WHEREAS, Located in Smith County, Beaird Farm was founded in
 1-7     1868 by Mr. Beaird and has been in continuous operation by the
 1-8     Beaird family since that time; the farm's esteemed founder was
 1-9     indeed a noteworthy gentleman who devoted much of his life to
1-10     serving his fellow Texans; and
1-11           WHEREAS, While he was a young boy, Mr. Beaird's family moved
1-12     from Alabama to Texas and eventually settled in Tyler in 1852;
1-13     after bravely fighting in the Civil War, he returned to Tyler and
1-14     on December 14, 1865, married the former Mary Ann Adams; a
1-15     self-taught lawyer, he would be admitted to the bar and go on to
1-16     practice law in Tyler for many years; and
1-17           WHEREAS, During this time, Mr. Beaird not only established
1-18     his farm but also began his noteworthy career of public service to
1-19     Tyler, Smith County, and the Lone Star State; he served with
1-20     distinction as president of the Smith County Fair Association for
1-21     two years, as county commissioner for one term, and in the Texas
1-22     Legislature during the 24th and 25th legislative sessions; and
1-23           WHEREAS, He was the county judge of Smith County for four
1-24     terms and was also active as ex officio county superintendent of
 2-1     schools; and
 2-2           WHEREAS, In 1910, Mr. Beaird was elected mayor of Tyler, a
 2-3     position he held until his death in 1915; the newspaper account of
 2-4     his funeral reported that "practically every business" in Tyler
 2-5     closed for the funeral and public schools were dismissed for the
 2-6     day, and that "no citizen enjoyed a more extensive acquaintance nor
 2-7     had more friends" than Mayor Beaird; and
 2-8           WHEREAS, Benjamin Bryant Beaird was truly a prominent leader
 2-9     of the Lone Star State, and as the farm that he established many
2-10     decades ago is recognized by the Family Land Heritage program of
2-11     the Texas Department of Agriculture, it is most fitting that we pay
2-12     tribute to his legacy and commend his descendents who have kept the
2-13     Beaird farming tradition alive; now, therefore, be it
2-14           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
2-15     Legislature hereby honor the life and achievements of Benjamin
2-16     Bryant Beaird and extend warm congratulations to the present
2-17     generation of the Beaird family on receiving recognition from the
2-18     Family Land Heritage program; and, be it further
2-19           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-20     prepared for the Beaird family as an expression of high regard by
2-21     the Texas House of Representatives.
                                                                      Berman
                                             _______________________________
                                                   Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.R. No. 410 was adopted by the House on March
         13, 2001, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House