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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The year 2007 marks the 100th anniversary of that |
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renowned Texas company, Blue Bell Creameries of Brenham; and |
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WHEREAS, Founded as a Washington County dairy cooperative |
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called the Brenham Creamery Company, the firm took over an |
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abandoned cotton gin and began making butter from excess cream in |
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1907; and |
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WHEREAS, The creamery made its first ice cream four years |
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later, at the rate of two gallons a day; packed in wooden tubs |
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filled with ice and salt, the ice cream was delivered to local |
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residents by a horse-drawn wagon; and |
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WHEREAS, The popularity of the product spread quickly by word |
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of mouth, and the creamery increased production; renamed Blue Bell |
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Creameries in 1930, after the beloved Texas wildflower, the company |
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began distributing its ice cream in refrigerated trucks to grocery |
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stores in 1936; and |
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WHEREAS, Under the leadership of E. F. Kruse, who served as |
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general manager from 1919 to 1951, and thereafter under the |
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leadership of his sons, Ed and Howard, Blue Bell Creameries has |
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expanded throughout the south-central and southeastern United |
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States; now distributed in 16 states, Blue Bell is one of the top |
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three best-selling ice cream brands in the United States; and |
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WHEREAS, Still purchasing its raw materials from local |
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farmers' cooperatives, Blue Bell manufactures more than 20 flavors |
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year-round and 20 seasonal flavors, and the Blue Bell factory in |
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Brenham draws 117,000 visitors each year; and |
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WHEREAS, Blue Bell is celebrating its centennial throughout |
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2007 with a traveling ice cream caravan, a flavor-naming contest, |
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and, in July, a three-day birthday party in Brenham; the summer will |
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also bring the unveiling of two new bronze sculptures in Brenham, |
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one depicting the company's famous logo of a girl leading a cow and |
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the other portraying original company manager E. F. Kruse; and |
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WHEREAS, Living up to its motto of "We eat all we can and sell |
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the rest," Blue Bell has brought sweetness and joy to generations of |
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Texans and other lovers of ice cream across the South with its |
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century-long commitment to quality and to innovative marketing; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Blue Bell Creameries on its 100th |
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anniversary and extend best wishes to the company and its employees |
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for continued success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Blue Bell Creameries as an expression of high regard by |
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the Texas House of Representatives. |