78R12680 MMS-D

By:  Callegari                                                    H.R. No. 883



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, On April 29, 2003, residents from Katy are gathering 
in Austin to celebrate Katy Day at the State Capitol; and
	WHEREAS, First settled in 1872 and originally known as Cane 
Island, Katy took its present-day name from the Missouri, Kansas 
and Texas Railroad, which built through the area in the 1890s; the 
city was formally incorporated in 1945 and is located in three 
counties--Harris, Fort Bend, and Waller; and
	WHEREAS, In the early days, the town's prosperity derived 
from the production of cotton, peanuts, and corn, but those crops 
were eclipsed after William Eule introduced rice farming in 1901; 
natural gas was discovered in 1934, and during World War II the size 
of the field's reserves, coupled with its proximity to Houston-area 
refineries, made it the most important gas-condensate field in the 
United States; today, Katy remains an important rail and 
agricultural center and continues to profit from one of the largest 
gas fields in the Lone Star State; and
	WHEREAS, Among the town's cultural assets are Heritage Park, 
home to a number of historic buildings that have been restored by 
the Katy Heritage Society, and the Katy Veterans Memorial Museum, 
which features military exhibits of every foreign conflict 
involving the United States; the Katy Heritage Museum, located at 
6002 George Bush Drive in the VFW Park, opened on June 13, 2002; 
this 9,600-square-foot facility houses vintage farming equipment 
and artifacts from Katy's agricultural and pioneering history, 
including old photographs and memorabilia; and
	WHEREAS, Residents of this fine city enjoy commemorating its 
heritage each year at the Katy Rice Harvest Festival, sponsored by 
the Katy Area Chamber of Commerce; this celebration, which draws 
more than 50,000 people over a two-day period, is being held again 
on October 11-12, 2003; in addition, numerous parks in the city 
provide year-round opportunities for a wide range of recreational 
activities; and
	WHEREAS, The award-winning Katy Independent School District 
(KISD) provides young Texans with a top-notch education and is 
considered one of the strongest and most competitive school 
districts in the state, as exemplified by the fact that it is one of 
only three large districts to have held the distinction of a 
"recognized" rating from the Texas Education Agency continuously 
since 1997; and
	WHEREAS, Other indicators of the district's success include 
student achievement levels that in 2001-2002 met state standards 
for "exemplary" in both reading and math; KISD has 13 National Blue 
Ribbon Schools of Excellence, as well as an award-winning Partners 
in Education program, which provides approximately one volunteer 
for every three children in the district; furthermore, KISD is the 
first school district in the world to adopt a Junior Achievement 
(JA) "whole district" approach, providing the JA curriculum at each 
grade level and every campus; and
	WHEREAS, This charming town prides itself on making sure 
"You'll Love Katy," and such organizations as Katy VFW Post No. 9182 
contribute to making the community special; the post has received 
national awards for its exemplary community services; and
	WHEREAS, The city is also the proud hometown of several 
talented citizens who have gained national attention; accomplished 
actress Renee Zellweger, a native of Katy, has won numerous awards 
for her performances in Nurse Betty, Bridget Jones's Diary, and 
Chicago; country western superstar Clint Black also grew up in Katy 
and has won nearly every music industry accolade imaginable, 
including being honored with a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame for 
his outstanding contributions to music and entertainment; and
	WHEREAS, Situated a scant 25 miles west of downtown Houston, 
Katy offers ready access to all the benefits of a big city while 
affording its residents the friendly community life of a small 
town; the citizens of Katy are embracing the myriad challenges and 
opportunities of the future while continuing to build on their 
history, and it is indeed most appropriate to pay tribute to them at 
this time; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature hereby recognize April 29, 2003, as Katy Day at the 
State Capitol and extend to the delegation here today sincere best 
wishes for an enjoyable and memorable visit.