By Krusee                                             H.R. No. 1033
         77R15795 MMS-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The city of Taylor is celebrating its 125th
 1-2     anniversary this year with a number of special events scheduled for
 1-3     June 8-9; and
 1-4           WHEREAS, Since the first town lots were sold in June 1876,
 1-5     this community in eastern Williamson County has grown steadily,
 1-6     built through the efforts of many hands and ethnic populations;
 1-7     located on the line of the International & Great Northern Railroad
 1-8     (IGN) and also astride a major cattle trail, Taylor quickly became
 1-9     an important shipping point for farmers and ranchers; and
1-10           WHEREAS, A second railroad, the Missouri-Kansas-Texas,
1-11     reached the town in 1882, further strengthening Taylor's position
1-12     as a marketing center; over the years, Taylor's economy has
1-13     benefited from the cultivation of cotton and grains, the discovery
1-14     of oil in nearby Thrall, and the establishment of light industries;
1-15     and
1-16           WHEREAS, Originally known as Taylor Station and later as
1-17     Taylorsville, the community assumed its present name in 1884;
1-18     Czech, German, and Austrian immigrants were among its earliest
1-19     settlers; the town's rich mosaic also includes people of African
1-20     American, English, Hispanic, Middle Eastern, Polish, Scotch-Irish,
1-21     Swedish, and other descent; and
1-22           WHEREAS, Residents who have achieved distinction include Dan
1-23     Moody, governor of Texas from 1927 to 1931; William "Bill" Pickett,
1-24     the African American rodeo cowboy who is credited with originating
 2-1     the bulldogging event; Elmer "Pet" Brown, who won the world
 2-2     middleweight championship in wrestling in 1914; and Rip Torn, the
 2-3     film and television actor; and
 2-4           WHEREAS, Selected as a Main Street City by the Texas
 2-5     Historical Commission, Taylor has undertaken a concerted program of
 2-6     historic preservation, while the educational opportunities afforded
 2-7     by branches of Temple College and Austin Community College help
 2-8     many residents build toward the future; and
 2-9           WHEREAS, A beacon to Texans throughout the area who love
2-10     kolaches and good barbecue, Taylor is a friendly town whose people
2-11     come together to support the activities and sports teams of Taylor
2-12     High School and to enjoy such community events as History Days, the
2-13     Taylor Fair, and the Cot'n Pik'n Festival; and
2-14           WHEREAS, The industrious members of this vital Central Texas
2-15     community are preserving the best of their past and looking forward
2-16     to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, and it is
2-17     indeed a pleasure to recognize their achievements and their public
2-18     spirit; now, therefore, be it
2-19           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
2-20     Legislature hereby congratulate the citizens of Taylor on the
2-21     occasion of their city's 125th anniversary and extend to them all
2-22     sincere best wishes as they celebrate this historic milestone.