79R14761 MAM-D

By:  Homer                                                      H.C.R. No. 165



CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
	WHEREAS, Citizens from Lamar County are visiting the State 
Capitol on May 4, 2005, to celebrate Paris/Lamar County Day; and
	WHEREAS, Located in North Texas in the heart of the Red River 
Valley, Lamar County was once home to the Caddo Indians, who are 
believed to have occupied the area shortly after 500 A.D.; during 
the 1600s, Europeans began to explore the land, and Anglos first 
settled there around 1815; officially organized on February 1, 
1841, Lamar County was named for Mirabeau B. Lamar, the fourth 
president of the Republic of Texas; and
	WHEREAS, George W. Wright, a member of the 3rd Texas Congress 
and a major promoter of the founding of the county, donated 50 acres 
of land for a townsite, which became Paris and was established as 
the county seat in 1844; and
	WHEREAS, A center for commerce and manufacturing, Paris has 
long played a significant role in the development of the area; 
today, the city is home to four Fortune 500 manufacturers, yet it 
maintains its small-town charm, as evidenced by its 1920s downtown 
architecture; the city is also known for the unique photo-op 
offered by its distinctive landmark, a replica of the Eiffel Tower 
topped by a cowboy hat; and
	WHEREAS, In 1997, Paris was designated the Official Crape 
Myrtle City of Texas, and according to local legend, the city is 
also the birthplace of the French fry; as the story goes, Fletcher 
Davis, who ran a small cafe in Athens, introduced the hamburger to 
an appreciative crowd at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904; when 
interviewed by a reporter from the New York Tribune, he explained 
that the sandwich was his invention but that he learned to make the 
accompanying crispy potatoes from a friend in Paris; the reporter 
thought he meant Paris, France, and wrote about the delicious 
hamburger and its companion "French-fried potatoes"; and
	WHEREAS, Food enthusiasts may enjoy the city's culinary lore, 
but those who prefer outdoor recreations will take pleasure in 
Crook and Pat Mayse Lakes, which offer many sporting activities; 
the community's Sam Bell Maxey House and other historic sites 
impart a sense of the town's rich heritage; and
	WHEREAS, Residents of Lamar County ensure the vitality of 
their region by preserving their rich legacy and preparing for a 
productive future, while providing tourists with an attractive and 
enjoyable destination to visit; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the 79th Legislature of the State of Texas 
hereby recognize May 4, 2005, as Paris/Lamar County Day at the State 
Capitol and extend to its citizens sincere best wishes for an 
enjoyable visit to Austin.