78R11241 KMP-F

By:  Krusee                                                       H.R. No. 699



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is pleased to 
join the citizens of Round Rock in recognizing April 7, 2003, as 
Round Rock Day at the State Capitol; and
	WHEREAS, This is a special day for the citizens of Round Rock 
to gather at the Capitol to celebrate the contributions they have 
made to the heritage of the State of Texas; and
	WHEREAS, Long before the arrival of the first white settlers 
in the 1800s, the Tonkawa, Lipan Apache, Comanche, and Tawakoni 
Indians hunted and gathered in the Round Rock area; and
	WHEREAS, The city is named for the round, table-topped 
limestone rock located at a low water crossing in Brushy Creek; the 
rock is recognized as a tribute to the weary pioneers who forded the 
creek as they were looking for a better life in the West; and
	WHEREAS, The town of Round Rock began to take form after Jesse 
Chisholm marked his trail nearby in 1864 as he was on his way from 
the Rio Grande River to Abilene; the real boom for commerce occurred 
in 1876, when the Texas Land Company began building a new town at 
the end of the line for the Great Northern Railroad; today, many of 
those original buildings still stand; and
	WHEREAS, Round Rock was incorporated in 1913, and the newly 
formed city government began improving utilities, services, and 
streets; throughout the 20th century, the city experienced 
population growth, and its citizens worked together to overcome 
problems, such as a prolonged drought in 1978 and the need for 
improved health care facilities; collectively, Round Rock citizens 
embrace the city's motto of "Purpose, Passion, Prosperity"; and
	WHEREAS, The thriving city of 75,000 offers a high quality of 
life for its citizens, including numerous recreational activities 
and an award-winning park system, library, and school district; not 
only does Round Rock have the lowest property tax and utility rates 
in the region but also one of the lowest crime rates in the state; 
and
	WHEREAS, It is the home of the Round Rock Express Baseball 
Club and the internationally recognized Dell Computer Corporation; 
community events such as Frontier Days and Daffodil Days bring 
numerous visitors to the city; and
	WHEREAS, The residents of Round Rock can reflect on their 
community's history and progress with great pride, and the State of 
Texas and the city of Round Rock can look forward to a shared future 
of opportunities and challenges; and
	WHEREAS, In keeping with the Central Texas spirit of 
generosity and hospitality, the city is inviting the members of the 
Texas Legislature to attend Round Rock Day at Dell Diamond for an 
evening of Texas League baseball and a visit with baseball legend 
Nolan Ryan; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature hereby recognize April 7, 2003, as Round Rock Day at the 
State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the citizens of Round 
Rock who have come to the Capitol today.