1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 333 1-3 WHEREAS, The Texas Senate takes pleasure in welcoming the 1-4 proud citizens of Beaumont to Austin, Texas, on February 27, 2001, 1-5 as the group celebrates Beaumont Day at the State Capitol; and 1-6 WHEREAS, The county seat of Jefferson County, Beaumont is 1-7 located on the Neches River, where it is an industrial inland port 1-8 which is one of the state's largest handlers of ship tonnage; the 1-9 city is also the site of one of the world's largest petrochemical 1-10 and refining complexes; and 1-11 WHEREAS, In 1835, one of the town's organizers, Henry Millard, 1-12 bought 50 acres for a townsite and called it Beaumont, for beautiful 1-13 mountain; some of the first early industries were lumber products, 1-14 rice farming, and cattle ranching; and 1-15 WHEREAS, Settlement was fairly rapid, and the port of 1-16 Beaumont became the shipping center for cattle, sugar cane, and 1-17 cotton; on January 10, 1901, oil was discovered at Spindletop and 1-18 the town was changed; Spindletop created the first Texas boomtown 1-19 and a new energy industry was born; 600 oil companies were formed 1-20 during the boom, some of which became Texaco, Gulf, and Humble; 1-21 the city recently celebrated Spindletop's 100th anniversary on 1-22 January 10, 2001; and 2-1 WHEREAS, Beaumont has many thriving industries, including 2-2 rice, soybeans, wheat, grain sorghum, precision industrial 2-3 equipment, and medical instruments; and 2-4 WHEREAS, Colored by the culture of neighboring Louisiana, 2-5 Beaumont has a Cajun influence in some of its cuisine, and the mix 2-6 of cultures present in the city add greatly to its interest to both 2-7 tourists and residents; and 2-8 WHEREAS, The fascinating city holds recreational and outdoor 2-9 opportunities; it is located near the Big Thicket National Preserve, 2-10 and the fortunate placement of the town puts it near beaches, lakes, 2-11 parks, and marshlands; and 2-12 WHEREAS, Beaumont is known as the Museum Capital of Texas, 2-13 and it has 24 museums throughout the city; the Art Museum of 2-14 Southeast Texas has fine art, sculpture courtyards, and an art 2-15 library, while the Texas Energy Museum houses the Western Company 2-16 of Fort Worth and the Lamar University Spindletop collections; and 2-17 WHEREAS, Among other attractions of the city are the 2-18 McFaddin-Ward House, one of the few restored colonial Beaux-Arts 2-19 mansions in the country; there is also the oldest surviving 2-20 residence in Beaumont, the John Jay French Museum, which was built 2-21 in 1845; it has been carefully restored by the heritage society in 2-22 the city; and 2-23 WHEREAS, Noted for its vigorous and enthusiastic citizenry, 3-1 Beaumont takes justifiable pride in its past and looks forward to 3-2 its promising future; now, therefore, be it 3-3 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 3-4 77th Legislature, hereby proclaim February 27, 2001, as Beaumont 3-5 Day at the State Capitol and extend a hearty welcome to the citizens 3-6 from Beaumont; and, be it further 3-7 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for the 3-8 City of Beaumont as an expression of the admiration and esteem of 3-9 the Texas Senate. 3-10 Bernsen 3-11 ______________________________________ 3-12 President of the Senate 3-13 I hereby certify that the above 3-14 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 3-15 on February 26, 2001. 3-16 ______________________________________ 3-17 Secretary of the Senate 3-18 ______________________________________ 3-19 Member, Texas Senate