SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 461

	WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to 
join citizens of Fannin County in celebrating April 9, 2003, 
as Fannin County Day at the State Capitol; and

	WHEREAS, Located in northeast Texas along the 
Red River Valley, Fannin County was originally populated by 
Caddo Indians; by 1836, permanent settlement of the area had 
begun when several families arrived to build their homes on 
the rolling prairie; and

	WHEREAS, Fannin was the first original county created in 
1837 by the Congress of the Republic of Texas from the larger 
Red River County; the Texas Congress first thought of naming the 
new county Independence, but later settled on Fannin, in honor of 
James Walker Fannin, Jr., a martyred hero of the Texas Revolution; 
and

	WHEREAS, Bonham, the county seat, was founded in 1836 by 
Judge Bailey Inglish, who originally named the settlement 
Bois d'Arc after the area's native trees; the name of the town 
became Bonham in 1844, in honor of James B. Bonham, the famous 
messenger in the Battle of the Alamo; and

	WHEREAS, Fannin County is quite proud of its native son, 
Sam Rayburn, who began his distinguished political career in 
the Texas House of Representatives, serving one year as speaker; 
later, Sam Rayburn went to Washington, D.C., as a congressman 
and was reelected to that position for 48 years; during his 
tenure as congressman, Mr. Sam served as speaker of the 
United States House of Representatives for 17 years, longer 
than any other individual in history; and

	WHEREAS, Fannin County's final boundaries were established 
by 1846, and by 1900, the county had over 50,000 residents and 
was a significant producer of livestock and other agricultural 
products; by the end of the 20th century, Fannin County's farming 
economy also included manufacturing and retail businesses; and

	WHEREAS, The Bonham Area Chamber of Commerce was 
established in 1886 as the Board of Trade; renamed the chamber 
of commerce in 1926, it has been instrumental in bringing jobs 
and new residents to Bonham and Fannin County, and it is the 
driving force for social and economic change; and

	WHEREAS, Citizens of Fannin County have much to be proud 
of; their home has played an important role in the history of 
Texas, and it will continue to be vital to the state's well-being 
as an agribusiness center; a grand place, with industrious, 
civic-minded residents, Fannin County can look forward to a 
bright future; now, therefore, be it

	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 
78th Legislature, hereby extend best wishes to the citizens of 
Fannin County for a most enjoyable and successful Fannin County 
Day; and, be it further

	RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared 
for Fannin County as a memento of this grand occasion and as an 
expression of high regard from the Texas Senate.
                                                                          Deuell




________________________________ 
    President of the Senate
 
    I hereby certify that the 
above Resolution was adopted by 
the Senate on April 9, 2003.



________________________________ 
    Secretary of the Senate



________________________________ 
     Member, Texas Senate