By Hopson                                              H.R. No. 617
         77R11050 GMW-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, On March 29, 2001, members of the Jacksonville
 1-2     Leadership Group will be in Austin to celebrate Jacksonville Day at
 1-3     the State Capitol, and this festive event furnishes an ideal
 1-4     opportunity to extol the many attributes of this fine Texas town;
 1-5     and
 1-6           WHEREAS, Nestled in the heart of the Piney Woods,
 1-7     Jacksonville was situated to take advantage of the
 1-8     International-Great Northern Railroad in 1872, and since that time
 1-9     the community has grown from a small way station to a thriving and
1-10     diverse city; and
1-11           WHEREAS, An agricultural center from the outset, Jacksonville
1-12     was known in the 1930s and 1940s as the "Tomato Capital of the
1-13     World," and the city's annual Tomato Fest pays tribute to this
1-14     crop's role in the area's early development; produce, greenhouse
1-15     plants, and Christmas trees also thrive in the local soil, and
1-16     cattle, timber, and manufacturing have all become mainstays of the
1-17     local economy; and
1-18           WHEREAS, In addition to its vital business community,
1-19     Jacksonville also boasts a number of institutions of higher
1-20     learning, including Jacksonville College, Lon Morris College, and
1-21     the Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary; and
1-22           WHEREAS, The city is home to the historic Tomato Bowl, which
1-23     is the football stadium of the vaunted Jacksonville High School
1-24     Fight'n Indians, a team that has produced a number of outstanding
 2-1     scholar-athletes, such as Toby Gowin, the punter for the New
 2-2     Orleans Saints; and
 2-3           WHEREAS, Other noteworthy individuals that hail from
 2-4     Jacksonville include country singers Lee Ann Womack and Neil McCoy
 2-5     and Broadway performers Deborah Yates and Tommy Hollis; and
 2-6           WHEREAS, The region's vibrant and varied natural beauty
 2-7     contributes to Jacksonville's high quality of life, and lakes
 2-8     Jacksonville, Palestine, and Striker offer outdoor enthusiasts
 2-9     ample recreational opportunities; and
2-10           WHEREAS, Blessed with a rich heritage, abundant natural
2-11     resources, and a dynamic citizenry, Jacksonville successfully
2-12     combines the bustle of a modern city with the charm and
2-13     friendliness of a small town, and it is indeed fitting at this time
2-14     to recognize this remarkable city and its proud residents; now,
2-15     therefore, be it
2-16           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
2-17     Legislature hereby recognize March 29, 2001, as Jacksonville Day at
2-18     the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the visiting members
2-19     of the Jacksonville Leadership Group; and, be it further
2-20           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-21     prepared for the members of the Jacksonville Leadership Group as an
2-22     expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.