H.R. No. 281
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Founded in Lufkin more than seven decades ago, the
Atkinson Candy Company has long fed the cravings of many Americans
with its distinctive sugary treats, and one of its most popular
candies, the Chick-O-Stick, remains a particular favorite among
Lone Star residents; and
WHEREAS, The roots of this venerable company extend back to
1932, during the Great Depression, when 25-year-old Basil E.
Atkinson launched a small candy and tobacco wholesale business; six
years later he began to manufacture his own candy, laying the
foundation for a multimillion-dollar company that is currently
ranked among the nation's top 10 suppliers of Halloween
confections; and
WHEREAS, Employing more than 150 workers, the Atkinson Candy
Company is the largest candy company in the state; it is now run by
the founder's grandson, Eric Atkinson, and uses many of the
original machines to produce its nostalgic line of sweets; and
WHEREAS, The company's best-selling treat is clearly the
Chick-O-Stick, a crunchy orange stick made with ground roasted
peanuts, sugar, and toasted coconut; in 2000, the company produced
more than 256 million of the candies and sold them across the United
States and in several other countries; Atkinson also produces
mints, Peanut Butter Bars, and a coconut peanut brittle; and
WHEREAS, The candy industry faces many challenges, including
globalization and the high domestic cost of sugar, which are
forcing many businesses to move out of the country; despite those
concerns, the Atkinson family is firmly committed to keeping their
production in Texas, and their dedication to the state, together
with their commitment to quality, has won them the respect of their
industry and the loyalty of employees and customers alike; and
WHEREAS, With deep roots in the Lone Star State, the Atkinson
Candy Company has cheered generations of Texans with the unique and
enduring Chick-O-Stick, and it is indeed a pleasure to recognize
both the company and its famous product at this time; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas
Legislature hereby honor the Atkinson Candy Company and its popular
Chick-O-Stick for their significant contributions to the economic
vitality of East Texas and for the pure pleasure they have brought
to countless citizens nationwide; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the Atkinson Candy Company as an expression of high
regard by the Texas House of Representatives.
McReynolds
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
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 281 was adopted by the House on March
12, 2003, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House