By Callegari H.R. No. 820
77R13773 MJS-D
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, On April 25, 2001, residents from Katy are gathering
1-2 in Austin to celebrate Katy Day at the State Capitol; and
1-3 WHEREAS, First settled in 1872, Katy was originally known as
1-4 Cane Island and its present-day name is derived from the Missouri,
1-5 Kansas, and Texas Railroad; the city was formally incorporated in
1-6 1945 and is located in parts of Harris, Waller, and Fort Bend
1-7 counties; and
1-8 WHEREAS, In its infancy, the town relied on its plentiful
1-9 crops of cotton, peanuts, and corn to prosper, but Katy underwent
1-10 an enormous change when William Eule introduced rice farming in
1-11 1901; moreover, the discovery well of the Katy gas field was
1-12 drilled in 1934 and during World War II the size of the reserves
1-13 and proximity to Houston-area refineries combined to make the city
1-14 the most important gas-condensate field in the country; and
1-15 WHEREAS, Today, the city remains an important rail and
1-16 agricultural center and is also known for having one of the largest
1-17 gas fields in the Lone Star State; and
1-18 WHEREAS, The town is home to Heritage Park, with a number of
1-19 restored historical buildings, made possible by the Katy Heritage
1-20 Society, and the Katy Veterans Memorial Museum, which features
1-21 military exhibits of every foreign conflict involving the United
1-22 States; and
1-23 WHEREAS, Residents of this fine city enjoy upholding its
1-24 heritage with the celebration of the Katy Rice Harvest Festival,
2-1 being held this year on October 13 and 14, and the annual Texas
2-2 SummerFest and Balloon Classic, during which more than 50 hot air
2-3 balloons will compete for the Southwest Regional Championship; in
2-4 addition, numerous parks in the city provide year-round
2-5 opportunities for a wide range of recreational activities; and
2-6 WHEREAS, The award-winning Katy Independent School District
2-7 provides young Texans with a top-notch education and is considered
2-8 one of the strongest and most competitive school districts in the
2-9 state, as is exemplified by the Taylor High School academic
2-10 decathlon team, which has won the state title for five consecutive
2-11 years and numerous national championships; in addition, the Cinco
2-12 Ranch High School Cougar Stars Drill Team was honored for its
2-13 academic prowess as a result of its members' cumulative 4.0 grade
2-14 point average, which is the highest in the 43-year history of the
2-15 American Dance/Drill Team; and
2-16 WHEREAS, Katy ISD is home to a number of exceptional athletic
2-17 programs as well; Faith West Academy and Katy High School won state
2-18 football titles in Class 3A and Class 5A Division 2, respectively,
2-19 while Taylor High School took the Class 5A boys' state swimming
2-20 crown and produced state runners-up in tennis and girls' soccer;
2-21 and
2-22 WHEREAS, Mayde Creek High School also has much to be proud
2-23 of, including junior Zack Wood, who saved a man's life and was
2-24 honored with a national lifesaving award for his selfless act of
2-25 heroism; and
2-26 WHEREAS, This charming town prides itself on making sure
2-27 "You'll love Katy," and such organizations as Katy VFW Post No.
3-1 9182 contribute to making the community special; the post has been
3-2 honored for its exemplary community service, with national awards
3-3 in 1999 and 2000; and
3-4 WHEREAS, The city has also figured prominently in the lives
3-5 of a number of talented local citizens who have gained national
3-6 attention; accomplished actress Renee Zellweger is a native of Katy
3-7 who won a 2001 Golden Globe Award for her sterling performance in
3-8 Nurse Betty and is currently starring in the highly acclaimed
3-9 Bridget Jones's Diary; country western superstar Clint Black also
3-10 grew up in Katy and has won nearly every accolade imaginable and
3-11 been honored with a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame for his
3-12 outstanding contributions to music and entertainment; and
3-13 WHEREAS, Situated a scant 25 miles west of downtown Houston,
3-14 Katy has all the benefits of a big city while offering its
3-15 residents the community life of a small town; the citizens of Katy
3-16 are embracing the myriad challenges and opportunities of the future
3-17 while continuing to build on their history, and it is indeed most
3-18 appropriate to pay tribute to them at this time; now, therefore, be
3-19 it
3-20 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
3-21 Legislature hereby recognize April 25, 2001, as Katy Day at the
3-22 State Capitol and extend to the delegation here today sincere best
3-23 wishes for an enjoyable and memorable visit.