SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 263

	WHEREAS, Many proud residents of Duval County have gathered
in Austin to celebrate Duval County Day at the State Capitol, and 
this notable event offers an ideal opportunity to recognize the 
county's many fine attributes; and
	WHEREAS, Duval County was formed in 1858 and named after 
Burr H. Duval, who fought in the Texas Revolution and was killed 
in the Goliad Massacre; and
	WHEREAS, The community experienced tremendous growth 
after the Civil War, helping to make Duval County a major sheep 
ranching center; in the 1870s it reportedly had more sheep than 
any other county of the United States; and
	WHEREAS, San Diego, chosen as the county seat in 1876, was 
the site where Father Claude Jaillet had built a 10-by-30-foot 
wooden church in 1867, which stood as the only place of worship 
between Corpus Christi and the Rio Grande; and
	WHEREAS, Freer, the second largest town in the county, 
gained prominence in 1928, when three wildcatters in the area 
struck one of the nation's largest oil reserves; the discovery of 
oil soon turned Freer into what Life magazine called "the last of 
the tough frontier oil towns," and by 1933 it was the second 
largest oil field in the United States; and
	WHEREAS, Residents and visitors alike enjoy the area's many 
annual celebrations, including the Freer Annual Rattlesnake 
Roundup in April; and
	WHEREAS, The people of Duval County take great pride in the 
rich history of their community, yet are also eager to embrace 
the challenges and opportunities of the years to come; it gives 
the members of this chamber great pleasure to honor them at this 
time; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 
78th Legislature, hereby recognize March 6, 2003, as Duval County 
Day at the State Capitol and extend warmest wishes to all of the 
county's citizens on this noteworthy occasion.
                                                                       Zaffirini




________________________________ 
    President of the Senate
 
    I hereby certify that the 
above Resolution was adopted by 
the Senate on March 6, 2003.



________________________________ 
    Secretary of the Senate



________________________________ 
     Member, Texas Senate