By Miller H.R. No. 589 77R10243 MMS-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Many proud citizens of Hamilton County are visiting 1-2 the Capitol on March 22, 2001, to celebrate the rich history and 1-3 numerous advantages of this Central Texas county; and 1-4 WHEREAS, Organized in 1858 with the town of Hamilton as the 1-5 county seat, Hamilton County was named for South Carolina governor 1-6 James Hamilton, who helped finance the Texas Revolution; settlers 1-7 of European descent began trickling into the area in the mid-1850s, 1-8 and their numbers swelled to the thousands soon after the threat of 1-9 Indian raids subsided around 1870; and 1-10 WHEREAS, Notable early residents included Ann Whitney, a 1-11 teacher killed while protecting schoolchildren during an Indian 1-12 attack, Haskell Harelik, a Jewish immigrant who became a leading 1-13 entrepreneur, and Ollie L. "Brushy Bill" Roberts, a former lawman 1-14 who claimed to be Billy the Kid; and 1-15 WHEREAS, While agriculture remains a mainstay of the local 1-16 economy, it is supplemented today by manufacturing, hunting 1-17 licenses, and tourism; the forward-looking towns of Hamilton and 1-18 Hico have formed an economic development corporation to promote the 1-19 region; and 1-20 WHEREAS, Attractions in the county seat include the Hamilton 1-21 County Historical Society Museum, live performances in the restored 1-22 Texan Theatre, the annual Dove Festival, and the highly popular 1-23 research center of the county's genealogical society; Hico is home 1-24 to the Billy the Kid Museum, the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, and the 2-1 Old Settlers Reunion, first held in 1882; and 2-2 WHEREAS, Hamilton County has been recognized by the Public 2-3 Utilities Commission for private business initiatives that have put 2-4 this part of Central Texas on the cutting edge of technology; with 2-5 accessible Internet service, residents and businesses have embraced 2-6 the myriad opportunities available to those online; and 2-7 WHEREAS, The changing face of rural Texas is reflected in 2-8 this resilient, productive county, where the pioneering spirit 2-9 still burns bright, and its citizens can be proud of the role it 2-10 has played in the annals of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be 2-11 it 2-12 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 2-13 Legislature hereby recognize March 22, 2001, as Hamilton County Day 2-14 at the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the delegation of 2-15 residents who are visiting on this day.