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H.R. No. 184
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Residents of Matagorda County are gathering at the
State Capitol on February 8, 2005, to celebrate the role their
county has played in the history of our great state; and
WHEREAS, In 1820, Moses Austin received a land grant that
included the fertile land between the Colorado and Brazos Rivers;
his son, Stephen F. Austin, continued his father's plans of
establishing a settlement in this Gulf Coast prairie region; and
WHEREAS, After the Texas Revolution, in 1836, Matagorda
County was organized as one of the first 23 counties of the Republic
of Texas; the name "matagorda" is the Spanish word for thick brush,
and it is derived from the canebrakes that formerly lined the
county's shore; in the 19th century, the region's fertile soil,
ample rainfall, and mild climate attracted hundreds of settlers,
who maximized the land for farming and ranching, and the area's
forests provided pioneer families with an abundant supply of wood
for building and fuel; and
WHEREAS, Cotton and sugar quickly became the dominant crops,
but in later years, the county expanded its agricultural economy to
include rice, corn, soybeans, milo, and other grains; today, the
region is home to the South Texas Nuclear Power Project and boasts a
diverse economy of agriculture, petrochemicals, plastics, and oil
and gas; and
WHEREAS, Matagorda County is a desirable destination for
visitors who enjoy the benefits of nature and outdoor recreational
activities, such as boating, sailing, fishing, and water skiing;
birdwatching has become a particularly popular pastime as the
county has led all of North America in the prestigious Audubon
Christmas Bird Count and 246 species were observed in December 2004
alone; and
WHEREAS, The area also draws many visitors and residents
alike to the Matagorda County Rodeo, the Christmas Lighted Parade
and Tour of Homes, the Shrimporee and Blessing of the Fleet, Bayfest
in November, the Rice Festival in October, and an annual cattle
drive across the Colorado River to Matagorda Peninsula; in addition
to the county seat, Bay City, other towns in the region include
Palacios, Blessing, Cedar Lane, Collegeport, Elmaton, Markham,
Matagorda, Midfield, Pledger, Sargent, Van Vleck, and Wadsworth;
and
WHEREAS, The residents of this fine Texas county have played
an important part in preserving their region's past and preparing
for a productive future, and it is a pleasure to pay tribute to
Matagorda County and its citizens on this special day; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas
Legislature hereby recognize February 8, 2005, as Matagorda County
Day at the State Capitol and extend to the delegation here today
sincere best wishes for an enjoyable visit.
Dawson
Craddick Geren Menendez
Allen of Harris Giddings Merritt
Allen of Dallas Gonzales Miller
Alonzo Gonzalez Toureilles Moreno of Harris
Anchia Goodman Moreno of El Paso
Anderson Goolsby Morrison
Bailey Griggs Mowery
Baxter Grusendorf Naishtat
Berman Guillen Nixon
Blake Haggerty Noriega
Bohac Hamilton Oliveira
Bonnen Hamric Olivo
Branch Hardcastle Orr
Brown of Kaufman Harper-Brown Otto
Brown of Brazos Hartnett Paxton
Burnam Hegar Pena
Callegari Herrero Phillips
Campbell Hilderbran Pickett
Casteel Hill Pitts
Castro Hochberg Puente
Chavez Hodge Quintanilla
Chisum Homer Raymond
Coleman Hope Reyna
Cook of Navarro Hopson Riddle
Cook of Colorado Howard Ritter
Corte Hughes Rodriguez
Crabb Hunter Rose
Crownover Hupp Seaman
Davis of Harris Isett Smith of Tarrant
Davis of Dallas Jackson Smith of Harris
Dawson Jones of Lubbock Smithee
Delisi Jones of Dallas Solis
Denny Keel Solomons
Deshotel Keffer of Dallas Strama
Driver Keffer of Eastland Swinford
Dukes King of Parker Talton
Dunnam King of Zavala Taylor
Dutton Kolkhorst Thompson
Edwards Krusee Truitt
Eiland Kuempel Turner
Eissler Laney Uresti
Elkins Laubenberg Van Arsdale
Escobar Leibowitz Veasey
Farabee Luna Villarreal
Farrar Madden Vo
Flores Martinez West
Flynn Martinez Fischer Wong
Frost McCall Woolley
Gallego McClendon Zedler
Gattis McReynolds
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 184 was adopted by the House on
February 8, 2005, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House