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