H.C.R. No. 60
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Many proud residents of Ellis County are gathered in
Austin to celebrate Ellis County Day at the State Capitol, and this
festive event offers an ideal opportunity to recognize the county's
many fine attributes; and
WHEREAS, Located in North Central Texas and including the
rich soils of the Blackland Belt, the 953 square miles of Ellis
County landscape vary from gently rolling terrain to a level plain;
and
WHEREAS, Created by the state legislature in 1849, Ellis
County takes its name from Richard Ellis, president of the
convention that declared Texas' independence from Mexico; in 1850
the first Ellis County Court authorized an expenditure of $59 for
the construction of a courthouse; that structure was replaced in
1895 with an elaborate red sandstone and granite building still in
use today and celebrated as one of the most beautiful historic
public buildings in Texas; and
WHEREAS, The arrival of the railroad in 1871 stimulated
agricultural production, and in the early 20th century Ellis County
ranked as one of the chief cotton-growing areas in the country;
today the county's diversified economy rests on agribusiness,
commerce, and industry; the city of Midlothian, home to such firms
as Chapparral Steel Company, Texas Industries, Holcim Texas, and
Ash Grove Cement LP, has been designated the Cement and Steel
Capital of Texas; and
WHEREAS, The people of Ellis County, eager to preserve their
heritage, have begun the process of restoring many historic homes
and landmarks to their original grandeur, and a number of
communities have participated in the Texas Main Street Project, a
program to rehabilitate and revitalize historic downtown and
commercial districts; and
WHEREAS, Waxahachie, the county seat, is affectionately
known as the Gingerbread City because of its lovingly maintained
Victorian homes, many of them framed by the colorful trees and
shrubs that have also caused the town to be known as the Crape
Myrtle Capital of Texas; and
WHEREAS, Waxahachie is home as well to one of the few
remaining Chautauqua auditoriums; constructed at the dawn of the
20th century, the hall hosted cultural and religious events and
continues to draw thousands of visitors each year; and
WHEREAS, Ennis, situated in the eastern part of the county,
was designated the Bluebonnet Capital of Texas by the Texas
Legislature in 1997; a cultural center for descendants of Czech
farmers who first settled on the Blackland Prairie in 1875, Ennis is
the site of the National Polka Festival, as well as the Texas
Motorplex, a professional and amateur track that offers world-class
auto racing; and
WHEREAS, Ennis's progressive economic environment has
attracted industries such as Sterilite Corporation, Elk Roofing,
Leggett & Platt, Inc., Atlas Soundolier, Ennis Steel Industries,
Inc., Lowe's Distribution Center, CVS Pharmacy Distribution
Center, and a state-of-the-art power plant, Ennis-Tractebel
Electricity and Gas International; and
WHEREAS, Known as the "Gateway to Ellis County," the city of
Red Oak balances the charm and comfort of small-town life with
convenient access to the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
and the metroplex; with a thriving local economy, sustained
residential growth, a low crime rate, and an award-winning school
district, which has earned "Recognized" status, this community is
an ideal place in which to live, work, and raise a family; and
WHEREAS, For several decades, prime movie locations in Ellis
County have drawn film production crews, and the Los Angeles Film
Makers Association has recognized Waxahachie as "The Best Little
Hollywood in Texas" and as "Vintage America in Mint Condition"; and
WHEREAS, Visitors and residents alike can learn about the
region's past while touring the Ellis County Museum, the Railroad
and Cultural Heritage Museum, and the Larkin Newton Cabin, all of
which showcase myriad antiques and artifacts that tell the
captivating story of Ellis County; and
WHEREAS, Ellis County is one of the Lone Star State's great
assets, and even as its dynamic citizens reflect with satisfaction
on their proud accomplishments, they can also look forward with
anticipation to the new challenges and opportunities that lie
ahead; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 78th Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby recognize March 4, 2003, as Ellis County Day at the State
Capitol and extend best wishes to all Ellis County citizens for a
bright and prosperous future.
Pitts
Craddick
Giddings
Merritt
Allen
Goodman
Miller
Alonzo
Goolsby
Moreno of Harris
Bailey
Griggs
Moreno of El Paso
Baxter
Grusendorf
Morrison
Berman
Guillen
Mowery
Bohac
Gutierrez
Naishtat
Bonnen
Haggerty
Nixon
Branch
Hamilton
Noriega
Brown of Kaufman
Hamric
Oliveira
Brown of Brazos
Hardcastle
Olivo
Burnam
Harper-Brown
Paxton
Callegari
Hartnett
Pena
Campbell
Heflin
Phillips
Canales
Hegar
Pickett
Capelo
Hilderbran
Pitts
Casteel
Hill
Puente
Castro
Hochberg
Quintanilla
Chavez
Hodge
Rangel
Chisum
Homer
Raymond
Christian
Hope
Reyna
Coleman
Hopson
Riddle
Cook of Navarro
Howard
Ritter
Cook of Colorado
Hughes
Rodriguez
Corte
Hunter
Rose
Crabb
Hupp
Seaman
Crownover
Isett
Smith of Tarrant
Davis of Harris
Jones of Lubbock
Smith of Harris
Davis of Dallas
Jones of Bexar
Smithee
Dawson
Jones of Dallas
Solis
Delisi
Keel
Solomons
Denny
Keffer of Dallas
Stick
Deshotel
Keffer of Eastland
Swinford
Driver
King
Talton
Dukes
Kolkhorst
Taylor
Dunnam
Krusee
Telford
Dutton
Kuempel
Thompson
Edwards
Laney
Truitt
Eiland
Laubenberg
Turner
Eissler
Lewis
Uresti
Elkins
Luna
Van Arsdale
Ellis
Mabry
Villarreal
Farabee
Madden
West
Farrar
Marchant
Wilson
Flores
Martinez Fischer
Wise
Flynn
McCall
Wohlgemuth
Gallego
McClendon
Wolens
Garza
McReynolds
Wong
Gattis
Menendez
Woolley
Geren
Mercer
Zedler
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 60 was adopted by the House on March
4, 2003, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 60 was adopted by the Senate on
March 4, 2003, by a viva-voce vote.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor