1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 135 1-3 WHEREAS, On February 27, 2001, Fayette County citizens are 1-4 celebrating the many contributions this fine county has made to the 1-5 State of Texas; and 1-6 WHEREAS, Fayette County, which includes the charming 1-7 towns of La Grange, Schulenburg, Flatonia, Ledbetter, Fayetteville, 1-8 Round Top, Carmine, Ellinger, Engle, High Hill, Dubina, 1-9 Ammannsville, Hostyn, Praha, Swiss Alps, Freyburg, Cistern, Holman, 1-10 Kirtley, Nechanitz, Plum, Muldoon, Oldenburg, O'Quinn, Rek Hill, 1-11 Rutersville, St. John, Waldeck, Walhalla, Warda, Warrenton, 1-12 West Point, Willow Springs, Winchester, and Winedale, is situated 1-13 in the heart of South Central Texas and has been blessed with some 1-14 of the state's most picturesque landscapes: gently rolling hills, 1-15 steep bluffs, vivid wildflowers, rich farmland, and dense forests 1-16 threaded by the Colorado River; and 1-17 WHEREAS, Tonkawas, Comanches, and more than 13 other 1-18 Indian tribes traded and pursued buffalo here; German and Czech 1-19 communities were established in the 1840s and 1850s, and their 1-20 influence is still felt throughout the area; and 1-21 WHEREAS, Organized on December 14, 1837, Fayette County 1-22 was named for the Marquis de Lafayette, who aided the American 1-23 colonists in their struggle for independence; in 1838 the 2-1 Texas Congress approved a site near La Grange as the location 2-2 for the new capital, but the choice was rejected by 2-3 President Sam Houston; and 2-4 WHEREAS, A legion of notable individuals have lived or 2-5 left their footprints in Fayette County, and today's residents are 2-6 proud to claim an association with such figures as John W. Dancy, 2-7 Samuel Walker, Byrd Lockhart, Stephen F. Austin, Big Foot Wallace, 2-8 William G. Webb, Mary Maverick, Thomas Green, Temple Houston, 2-9 David Crockett, Mirabeau B. Lamar, La Salle, Alonso de Leon, 2-10 R. E. B. Baylor, Robert S. Neighbors, and John H. Moore; and 2-11 WHEREAS, The settlement of Fayette County has been the 2-12 work of people from many different backgrounds, all of whom aspired 2-13 to a brighter future; among them were Spaniards, Mexicans, and 2-14 African Americans, as well as those of Irish, Scottish, French, 2-15 German, and Czech descent; and 2-16 WHEREAS, Fayette County is an integral part of the 2-17 Texas Independence Trail, a project of the Texas Historical 2-18 Commission; winding through 28 counties, this route traverses 2-19 land that witnessed the Texas Revolution and formative events of 2-20 the Texas Republic; prominent Fayette County sites within the trail 2-21 region include the restored home of Nathaniel W. Faison, a 2-22 volunteer soldier captured during the 1842 Mexican invasion of 2-23 Texas and a survivor of Mexico's Perote prison, and Monument Hill, 2-24 tomb of Faison's compatriots who fell at the battle of Salado Creek 2-25 and also the grave of executed members of the Mier expedition; and 2-26 WHEREAS, Tradition is strong in Fayette County, where 3-1 citizens share the patriotism of early residents and have also 3-2 kept alive their deep faith; the congregations of many historic 3-3 churches are active yet today, and the beauty of their buildings 3-4 lends a graceful serenity to the countryside; especially renowned 3-5 are the Painted Churches of Ammannsville, Dubina, High Hill, and 3-6 Praha; the tiny Catholic church in Warrenton, the venerable 3-7 Methodist church in Freyburg, the Lutheran church in Swiss Alps, 3-8 and Saint James Episcopal Church in La Grange; and 3-9 WHEREAS, Residents and visitors of all ages delight in the 3-10 many parish feasts and in such celebrations as the Fayette County 3-11 Country Fair, Czhilispiel, Lickskillet, the Antiques Festival, the 3-12 Schulenburg Festival, and the Round Top Fourth of July Parade, said 3-13 to be the oldest such parade west of the Mississippi; and 3-14 WHEREAS, Fayette Lake, the Colorado River, and a variety 3-15 of recreational facilities offer ample opportunity for fishing, 3-16 boating, hiking, golfing, and many other sports; for bicycle riders 3-17 who participate in the MS-150, a ride from Houston to Austin to 3-18 raise funds for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the route 3-19 through Fayette County offers some of the most rewarding scenery of 3-20 the event; and 3-21 WHEREAS, In addition to tourism and recreation, other 3-22 important sectors of the Fayette County economy include oil, 3-23 light industry, the production of electricity, and the mining of 3-24 construction gravel, clays, and fuller's earth; long a leader in 3-25 the state's agricultural production, the county ships the bounty 3-26 of its farms and ranches throughout the world; and 4-1 WHEREAS, The dynamic economy supports an outstanding 4-2 educational system, one that provides a solid foundation for those 4-3 going on to further education or into the skilled workforce; county 4-4 residents also benefit from an incomparable medical support team 4-5 and are looking forward to the construction of a new hospital; and 4-6 WHEREAS, Today's Fayette County citizens are enriched by 4-7 the cultures bequeathed them by successive waves of settlers and 4-8 stand proud in the knowledge that they are honoring and passing on 4-9 to future generations the best of this inheritance; it is a great 4-10 pleasure, therefore, to join with these worthy Texans in 4-11 celebrating the rich and vital heritage of Fayette County and 4-12 the myriad roles its people have played in building the 4-13 Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it 4-14 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 4-15 77th Legislature, hereby welcome the distinguished delegation 4-16 of Fayette County residents visiting on this day and recognize 4-17 February 27, 2001, as Fayette County Day at the State Capitol. 4-18 Armbrister 4-19 ______________________________________ 4-20 President of the Senate 4-21 I hereby certify that the above 4-22 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 4-23 on January 30, 2001. 4-24 ______________________________________ 4-25 Secretary of the Senate 4-26 ______________________________________ 4-27 Member, Texas Senate