R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, On March 13, 2001, many proud residents of the city
1-2 of Corsicana and Navarro County will gather in Austin to celebrate
1-3 Corsicana/Navarro County Day at the State Capitol; and
1-4 WHEREAS, Officially organized in 1846, the county is named
1-5 for Jose Antonio Navarro, a signer of the Texas Declaration of
1-6 Independence and a prominent leader during the days of the Texas
1-7 Republic and early statehood; and
1-8 WHEREAS, The arrival of the Houston and Texas Central
1-9 Railroad in the early 1870s helped spur the development of this
1-10 region; the county's multifaceted economy now revolves around
1-11 agriculture, manufacturing, and the oil industry; and
1-12 WHEREAS, Corsicana was established in 1848 to serve as the
1-13 Navarro County seat and became a prosperous commercial center in
1-14 the late 1800s; in 1894 drillers seeking more water for the town's
1-15 growing population struck oil and gas instead and their find, the
1-16 earliest major oil discovery west of the Mississippi, led to the
1-17 state's first oil boom; and
1-18 WHEREAS, Over the years this initial strike was followed by
1-19 the discovery of several additional oil fields; since 1895 Navarro
1-20 County has produced more than 200 million barrels and today has the
1-21 longest continual flow of oil in Texas; moreover, Corsicana holds
1-22 the unique distinction of being the first city in Texas to use gas
1-23 for fuel and lighting; and
1-24 WHEREAS, Corsicana is renowned for its world-famous
2-1 fruitcake, a creation of the 105-year-old Collin Street Bakery;
2-2 shipped throughout the United States and to more than 190 foreign
2-3 countries each year, this confection remains the only fruitcake
2-4 ever to earn the prestigious Gourmet Society Culinary Merit Award;
2-5 and
2-6 WHEREAS, A charming community and the largest town in the
2-7 county, Corsicana features many outstanding attractions, including
2-8 the Lefty Frizzell Country Music Museum, Warehouse Living Arts
2-9 Center, and Pioneer Village, a historical re-creation of a 19th
2-10 century town; in addition, Navarro College is home to one of the
2-11 finest Native American art collections in the Southwest at the
2-12 Gaston C. Gooch Library, the Cook Center for Arts, Science, and
2-13 Technology, and the extensive Pearce Collection of Civil War
2-14 Documents; and
2-15 WHEREAS, Visitors and locals alike can keep up with news and
2-16 events in Corsicana and the region by reading the Corsicana Daily
2-17 Sun, whose presses have been rolling now for more than a century;
2-18 and
2-19 WHEREAS, This geographically diverse area is a haven for
2-20 outdoor and water enthusiasts, who find ample opportunity for
2-21 boating, fishing, skiing, and numerous other activities at
2-22 Richland-Chambers Reservoir, Navarro Mills Lake, and Lake Halbert;
2-23 and
2-24 WHEREAS, The citizens of Corsicana and Navarro County are
2-25 continuing to build on their colorful history and rich heritage,
2-26 and it is most appropriate to honor them as they embrace the myriad
2-27 challenges and opportunities of the future; now, therefore, be it
3-1 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
3-2 Legislature hereby recognize March 13, 2001, as Corsicana/Navarro
3-3 County Day at the State Capitol and extend to the citizens visiting
3-4 on this day best wishes for an informative trip to the seat of
3-5 Texas government.
Alexander
_______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 516 was adopted by the House on March
13, 2001, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House