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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Proud residents of Richards are gathering to |
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celebrate the 100th anniversary of their town with a picnic and ice |
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cream social on May 26, 2007; and |
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WHEREAS, Situated in the rolling countryside of eastern |
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Grimes County, the region around Richards was originally inhabited |
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by the Bidai tribe; Anglo-American settlers lived in the area from |
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the 1830s, but the town itself was not founded until the arrival of |
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the Trinity and Brazos Valley Railroad in the early 20th century; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Named for Fairfield banker W. E. Richards, organizer |
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of the Valley Route and Townsite Loan Company, the town was founded |
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in 1907 on land from the former Scott plantation, and the town's |
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first house was the plantation's former slave quarters; residents |
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of nearby Fairview and Longstreet moved entire homes and businesses |
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on log rollers to the new site alongside the railroad, and in true |
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Texas fashion, the founding of the town was celebrated with a |
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barbecue; and |
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WHEREAS, Richards was a bustling little town with a railroad |
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depot, a cotton gin, a post office, a bank, a drugstore, a hotel, a |
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barbershop, several general stores, and a weekly newspaper, the |
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Richards Rustler, until the railroad discontinued service and |
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businesses closed; and |
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WHEREAS, Today Richards is growing again, with many new |
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neighbors moving from the Houston area; the old drugstore sells |
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antiques, the former bank is the town's civic center, and the |
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Richards Independent School District provides a fine education for |
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children from three counties; and |
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WHEREAS, Even as they celebrate their colorful history, the |
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residents of Richards look forward to a bright future, and it is |
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fitting to pay tribute to their town's first 100 years; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate the citizens of Richards on the |
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town's centennial and extend best wishes to them for an enjoyable |
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and memorable birthday celebration; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the town of Richards as an expression of high regard by |
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the Texas House of Representatives. |
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Kolkhorst |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 2140 was adopted by the House on May |
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25, 2007, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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