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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Proud citizens of Katy are gathering in Austin to |
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celebrate Katy Day at the State Capitol on April 12, 2007; and |
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WHEREAS, Situated on the coastal prairie among the grasslands |
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and bayous, the community was originally known as Cane Island; it |
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was first settled in the 1870s as a farming community, with |
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residents growing primarily cotton, peanuts, and corn until 1901 |
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when William Eule introduced rice farming; the town came to be |
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called Katy, after the depot of the Missouri, Kansas and Texas |
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Railroad (the MKT)--or perhaps after the wife of a saloonkeeper; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, The discovery of natural gas in 1934 changed the |
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fortunes of area residents, who profited from the size of the field |
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and the nearness of Houston's refineries; the city was incorporated |
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in 1945 and today is an important rail and agricultural center; and |
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WHEREAS, The Katy Independent School District is one of the |
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fastest-growing districts in the state and includes 27 elementary |
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schools, 10 junior highs, 6 high schools, and a career technology |
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center; one to three computers are available in every classroom, |
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and the entire district is linked with fiber optic cable; student |
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achievement surpasses statewide levels on every test; and |
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WHEREAS, Katy Heritage Park includes the Wright Museum and |
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the restored post office; vintage farming equipment as well as |
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early photographs and antiques are on display at the Katy Heritage |
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Museum; the old MKT Depot has been restored on its new site in Katy |
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City Park; and |
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WHEREAS, Katy's Rice Harvest Festival every October |
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celebrates the town's agricultural heritage with more than 300 food |
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and craft booths, a carnival, and live entertainment on two stages; |
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the Folk Life Festival at the Kenneth D. Welch Outdoor Learning |
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Center enables visitors to experience frontier life firsthand; one |
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of the largest school rodeos in the state, the Katy ISD FFA |
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Livestock Show and Rodeo attracts some of the finest rodeo riders in |
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the country; and |
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WHEREAS, Celebrating the rich traditions of its small-town |
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past, Katy is preparing for a dynamic future, and its citizens are |
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to be congratulated for their contributions to the economy and |
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culture of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize April 12, 2007, as Katy Day at the |
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State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation best wishes for |
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an enjoyable and informative stay in Austin. |