1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 154 1-3 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is proud to 1-4 welcome the residents of Rockwall County to the State Capitol 1-5 on February 21, 2001, to celebrate Rockwall County Day; and 1-6 WHEREAS, Located north of Kaufman County in north central 1-7 Texas, Rockwall County is situated mostly in the blackland 1-8 prairie, and cedar, oak, pecan, and bois d'arc grow in the river 1-9 bottom; the county has the highest proportion of arable land of 1-10 any county in the state, with 39 inches of annual rainfall; and 1-11 WHEREAS, Named for the extensive system of subterranean walls 1-12 that protrude above ground in outcroppings unique to the area, the 1-13 rock walls were discovered by settlers drilling for water; and 1-14 WHEREAS, Settlement in the area began in 1846, while the area 1-15 was still part of Kaufman County, and Rockwall County was formed 1-16 in 1873; it is the smallest county in Texas; and 1-17 WHEREAS, The county was originally an agricultural and 1-18 ranching center; today the county enjoys a healthy and diverse 1-19 economy with close proximity to the Dallas metroplex area and 1-20 a well-educated and industrious citizenry; and 1-21 WHEREAS, In their award-winning schools, students of the 2-1 area consistently perform better than their peers in state 2-2 and national standardized tests, win top honors in academic 2-3 competitions, and go on to college in large numbers; and 2-4 WHEREAS, Having experienced phenomenal growth in recent 2-5 years, the population has nearly doubled since 1980; currently 2-6 41,000 people live in this lovely county; and 2-7 WHEREAS, Business opportunities abound with the 2-8 Rockwall Area Chamber of Commerce, the Rockwall Economic 2-9 Development Corporation, and the dedicated staff of these two 2-10 fine organizations working in concert with the county and city 2-11 governments and various service businesses; and 2-12 WHEREAS, With many recreational options close at hand, the 2-13 county boasts excellent golfing at superb area courses, superior 2-14 sailing at Lake Ray Hubbard, and exceptional fishing; and 2-15 WHEREAS, Rockwall County has played a vital role in the 2-16 development of the Lone Star State, and it is a pleasure to 2-17 pay tribute to it; now, therefore, be it 2-18 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-19 77th Legislature, hereby declare Wednesday, February 21, 2001, 2-20 Rockwall County Day at the State Capitol and extend best 2-21 wishes to all its residents on this special occasion; and, be 2-22 it further 2-23 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 3-1 the county as a memento of this special day. 3-2 Cain 3-3 Carona 3-4 Armbrister Harris Shapleigh 3-5 Barrientos Haywood Sibley 3-6 Bernsen Jackson Staples 3-7 Bivins Lindsay Truan 3-8 Brown Lucio Van de Putte 3-9 Duncan Madla Wentworth 3-10 Ellis Moncrief West 3-11 Fraser Nelson Whitmire 3-12 Gallegos Ogden Zaffirini 3-13 Shapiro 3-14 Ratliff, President of the Senate 3-15 ______________________________________ 3-16 President of the Senate 3-17 I hereby certify that the above 3-18 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 3-19 on February 21, 2001. 3-20 ______________________________________ 3-21 Secretary of the Senate 3-22 ______________________________________ 3-23 Member, Texas Senate 3-24 ______________________________________ 3-25 Member, Texas Senate