By Alexander H.R. No. 516 77R8022 MJS-D 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.