R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, On May 5, 2001, current and former residents of the 1-2 Doans community in Wilbarger County will gather for the 118th 1-3 annual Doans May Day Picnic in Vernon; and 1-4 WHEREAS, Considered the oldest ongoing historical celebration 1-5 in Texas, the event traces its history back to a simple picnic on 1-6 May 1, 1884, which was enjoyed by a half-dozen people in a grove of 1-7 trees near the Red River; and 1-8 WHEREAS, Starting a tradition that continues today, a queen 1-9 was crowned at the 1911 festivities, which included carnivals, 1-10 rodeos, airplane rides, barbecues, storytelling by early settlers, 1-11 and political speeches; stores closed so that employees could 1-12 attend, and later it became a two-day affair with Sunday morning 1-13 services; more than a century later, the highlight of this event 1-14 remains the coronation of a king and queen, followed by a barbecue 1-15 dinner; and 1-16 WHEREAS, The first settlers in Wilbarger County were members 1-17 of the Doan family who arrived in 1878 and established a trading 1-18 post known as Doan's Store at a Red River crossing on the Chisholm 1-19 Trail; the original adobe building, owned by Corwin Doan, was 1-20 renovated by the Wilbarger Historical Commission and is the oldest 1-21 structure in the county; and 1-22 WHEREAS, Nicknamed "the jumping off place" by trail drivers, 1-23 Doan's Crossing thrived as the last chance to buy supplies before 1-24 travelers entered Indian territory; the modest settlement grew to 2-1 include supply stores, a post office, a two-story hotel, a saloon, 2-2 a drug store, a wagon yard, a blacksmith, a restaurant, a school, a 2-3 chapel, and several homes; and 2-4 WHEREAS, Jonathan and Corwin Doan and their families were 2-5 Quakers who enhanced community relations by befriending local 2-6 Indians, learning their language, and establishing lifelong 2-7 friendships; Corwin Doan was appointed Indian agent and hosted 2-8 visits by Quanah Parker and other famous chiefs and their tribes; 2-9 and 2-10 WHEREAS, The Indians would trade only with the Doan family, 2-11 who also counted among their regular customers the trail drivers 2-12 that herded six million cattle past the trading post during the 2-13 last two decades of the century; in 1931, a granite monument was 2-14 placed near Doan's Store in honor of those courageous trail 2-15 drivers; and 2-16 WHEREAS, The people of Doans take justifiable pride in their 2-17 community and the immeasurable contributions its citizens have made 2-18 to the rich history and culture of the Lone Star State, and it is 2-19 indeed fitting that they be acknowledged at this time; now, 2-20 therefore, be it 2-21 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 2-22 Legislature hereby commemorate the 118th Doans May Day Picnic and 2-23 extend to all celebrants best wishes for an enjoyable and memorable 2-24 event. Hardcastle _______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 869 was adopted by the House on April 25, 2001, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House